Former police station building to house new gym

Permission has been granted for a former police station to be turned into a gym.

Plans for the site on Darenth Lane in South Ockendon, Essex also include an outbuilding being converted into treatment rooms for physiotherapy.

The station was built in the 1950s and closed by Essex Police in 2016 as part of an ongoing review of the force's assets, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Thurrock Council received 36 objections from residents, including one man worried about the new gym's impact on a similar family-run business nearby.

Planning documents said the AB Salute gym would have 28 parking spaces with two bays including EV charging facilities.

It would be likely to open from 06:00 to 22:00 with the busiest hours expected to be from 16:00 to 20:00.

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