Newport City Council has rejected a planning bid to transform five recently completed industrial units into a gymnastics facility.

The proposal, put forward by Starburst (UK) Ltd, sought permission to repurpose the vacant structures at Boss Park on Stephenson Street for use as a gymnastics venue to be managed by Cartwheelers Gymnastics Ltd.

The facility was slated to provide gymnastics instruction for young people from six months through 17 years of age, alongside sessions for adults.

Anticipated attendance figures ranged between 600 and 800 individuals weekly.

Operating hours were proposed as 9am to 8.30pm Monday through Friday, with Saturday and Sunday sessions scheduled from 9am until 4pm.

Planning representative Nancy Heffaran contended that the scheme would bring a disused building into productive community service, delivering a purpose-designed venue for Newport residents.

She noted that current demand for such premises originates primarily from leisure providers, fitness operators, and community organisations rather than conventional manufacturing or industrial businesses.

Documentation from property firm Knight Frank indicated the units had been advertised for employment purposes since November 2025, while also asserting adequate industrial land supply exists throughout other areas of Newport to accommodate industrial requirements.

A sequential assessment supplied by the applicant maintained that no appropriately sized vacant structures could be found within Newport city centre or the surrounding district centres.

The location sits within a zone designated as vulnerable to tidal inundation from the River Usk, classified as Flood Zone 3.

An accompanying flood consequences assessment determined the gymnastics centre qualified as a less vulnerable classification under Welsh planning regulations.

Natural Resources Wales offered no formal objection to the scheme, though the organisation noted the location falls within Flood Zones 2 and 3 and recommended implementation of flood resistance measures.

Multiple additional consulted bodies similarly registered no opposition to the scheme.

Transport officials from Newport highway authority expressed no objection, contingent upon compliance with existing conditions applicable to the broader development.

Welsh Water sought conditions concerning surface water drainage arrangements, while Heneb, representing archaeological interests, and the Health and Safety Executive offered no safety-related objections.

Notwithstanding these largely favourable consultation responses, Newport City Council denied the planning application on August 27.

Planning officers determined the scheme would introduce a significant leisure destination into an area predominantly characterised by industrial operations, where pedestrian infrastructure is limited and heavy goods vehicle activity is frequent.

Officers indicated this arrangement would heighten the potential for conflict between families with children and industrial traffic.

The council also concluded the scheme failed to align with planning policies aimed at safeguarding employment land.

Officers stated insufficient justification had been presented to warrant the loss of purpose-built industrial accommodation that had not yet been utilised for its designated function.

The decision effectively prevents the gymnastics centre from proceeding as envisioned at this stage.