Oriental spa facility approved despite councillors’ concerns
A GUEST house is set to be transformed into an oriental spa facility after councillors gave it the go ahead at a recent meeting - despite one having concerns that people “in the nuddy” will be exposed to the carpark.
Charnwood Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved an application on Thursday, April 6, to transform a property, formerly the Highbury Guest House, on Leicester Road, Loughborough, into an oriental spa with guest accommodation.
The proposal includes the erection of an 11m long single story extension to the rear of the building to accommodate a jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, shower and changing room. Four of the first floor bedrooms would also become treatment rooms.
A document presented at the meeting stated the spa facility would not be open to the public but will be solely for the use of overnight guests or those having treatments as part of a package deal.
The application was reported to the committee at the request of Coun Anne Williams on the grounds of increased traffic movements to and from the property which is located in a residential area.
She said: “Traffic is extremely congestive on that part of the road especially at peak times. Spa facilities bring more unwanted day users to a residential area.”
A document presented at the meeting states four properties on Leicester Road objected to the proposal and the headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School objected as “he would not want pupils passing it on a daily basis”.
Coun Brenda Seaton said: “I’m disappointed that the head master has assumed that the business is of an ill repute.”
She added: “I can’t see any reason to turn the application down. I don’t think the traffic is severe enough to turn it down on those grounds.”
Coun Joan Tassell raised concerns about the rear extension design. She said: “It’s almost all glass. Because there’s a sauna and jacuzzi people will probably be in the nuddy.
“People using this will be exposed to the carpark.”
Coun Tassell asked if “obscure glass” could be attached as a planning condition but an officer stated: “there’s no evidence that people using the spa will be naked” and it “does not seem to be justified”.
After discussions regarding other concerns councillors had, it was agreed that the opening hours of treatment facilities should be changed from 10am-10pm to 10am-9pm.
It was also agreed no other rooms in the premises should be converted into treatment rooms without planning permission.