Brixton Street Gym is to temporarily relocate to an industrial estate in Herne Hill after plans were unanimously approved.
Block WorkOut Foundation, the charitable organisation that supports the gym, had sought temporary planning permission to use two of the units at the Mahatma Gandhi Industrial Estate on Milkwood Road.
Lambeth Council’s Planning Committee unanimously granted planning permission during a meeting last week (July 28).
The community gym is currently based on Somerleyton Road in Brixton, but needed to find an alternative venue while building work takes place for a regeneration scheme on Somerleyton Road.
However once completed, the Somerleyton Road development will have a new permanent space for the gym to move into.
The gym is supported by charitable organisation, Block WorkOut Foundation which offers free fitness, mentoring and youth engagement to people across Brixton and wider Lambeth.
It was first founded by Terroll Lewis over 10 years ago and has gone on to support thousands of children, young people and their families.
Mr Lewis, told committee members: “Many of the young people we support are facing real challenges, some are vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
“Some are under the fringes of gangs, and many simply lack positive opportunities. We create a safe space where they can channel their energy into something positive, build confidence, improve their mental wellbeing and develop discipline and purpose.”
Last year, Brixton Street Gym held 48 free community sessions, engaged with around 160 children and young people, and provided 35 fully-funded gym memberships. More than 150 locals also attended an annual community day.
Mr Lewis said every activity had been delivered “free of charge” and with the help of volunteers. He went on to say: “The Mahatma Ghandi [Industrial] Estate will give us the stability we need to continue and expand this work to reach even more young people and families, build stronger partnerships and create more opportunities for the community.
“We genuinely believe the Block WorkOut Foundation is a valuable community asset for Lambeth, approving this application means investing in prevention, healthier lives and brighter futures for local young people.”
The gym will use two units on the estate, with one already vacant and the other currently used for storage purposes by a manufacturing business.
The organisation’s outreach centre will also relocate to the temporary site so reach and community engagement officers can continue offering structured programmes and activities for young people and the wider community, which is delivered by Brixton Street Gym staff and volunteers.
At the end of the temporary permission, which will last for two years, the units will return back to their previous use, though the Somerleyton Road regeneration scheme isn’t expected to be completed until 2030.
During last week’s meeting, a motion was proposed by Cllr Viktor Westerdahl to extend the temporary use of the temporary site to three-and-a-half years so the gym could stay longer however, it didn’t receive enough votes and was voted down.
The Committee moved on to the original motion, which was to approve the application in line with officer recommendations.
The motion was unanimously voted through, meaning planning permission was granted.
Once relocated, the gym plans to open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 4pm on Saturday, Sundays, and Bank Holidays.
