A GYM that opened unexpectedly on Gipsy Lane in July has finally submitted planning permission for the building.

Residents on the street were left baffled after the gym started operating in the old Crowood building, as they had not been informed ahead of time.

Now six months after the gym opened, its application has at last been approved and will go to residents for comment.

The owners of the gym had been unaware they were required to put in a planning application to set up shop in the former office block.

While residents had no objections to the gym at the time, they felt the need to draw the attention of Swindon Council to the business.

Steven Moors, of Gipsy Lane, has no issues with the gym but felt the need to alert a planning officer to its existence when they visited him to discuss a separate application in the same building.

“They have been lovely neighbours,” said Steven.

“This all came about after we had notification for the 147 snooker club moving into the top floor of the building.

“When I was speaking to the officer from the planning office I said I was surprised we had had the notification because there had been a gym operating in the building for months.”

The officer informed the council, which was unaware of the gym at the time.

“They did tell me they require a certain amount of whistleblowing to a degree,” Steven added. “I am surprised they did not know because they were on the main road and put a sign up.

“I suppose these things happen. Some people do not realise they need planning permission, like when they want to put an extension on their house.”

Colin Bluett, of Gipsy Lane, had raised complaints about the snooker hall moving into the Crowood building, claiming it would put an added pressure on traffic.

“The gym almost sprang up out of nowhere,” he said. “At first we did not think anything of it.

“It was not until the planning application went through for the snooker hall on the top floor that we realised that we had nothing through from the council for the changes of use to the ground floor.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “We were alerted to the fact that a small amateur boxing club was operating out of one of the ground floor units at Crowood House and, as a result, advised the owner of the need for planning permission.”

The application has now been validated and residents will have the chance to comment, although there is little to no opposition to the gym.