Warwick District Council has granted planning permission for a unit within Leamington Spa's Victoria Business Centre to be converted into a martial arts gym.

The premise, located at Railway Arch 5 on Neilston Street, is used for storage and lies outside the town centre employment area, surrounded by a mix of commercial units.

The application was submitted on 27 January 2025 by Nakmuay Muay Thai, a company that sells boxing gear and offers training advice.

No objections to the application were made from Royal Leamington Spa Town Council or Warwickshire County Council's ecology team.

The proposed change of use from storage to a martial arts gym does not involve any internal or external alterations.

 As a result, the council concluded that the development is unlikely to have any significant impact on the surrounding streets or local environment.

According to the report of decisions submitted by Warwick District Council, the county ecologist reviewed photographs of the site and confirmed that the development is "unlikely to result in direct impact upon bats or nesting birds."

The decision letter also noted that the scheme "would have no undue detrimental impact on general visual amenity or on neighbouring amenity."

WDC further advised that construction work should avoid the main bird nesting season, which typically runs from March to September.

It noted, if work must proceed during this time, the site should be thoroughly checked for the presence of nesting birds before any activity begins.

Taking all considerations into account, the council approved the application, stating: "The proposal would have no undue detrimental impact on general visual amenity or on neighbouring amenity. 

"Therefore, it is recommended that permission is granted."

The full planning documents can be viewed here.

The unit is at Leamington Spa's Victoria Business Centre (image by Nub News)