Former café at Shotford Hall near Harleston set to become gym and community hub

Plans to transform a former café near Harleston into a gym and community hub have been given the green light.

In January, Andrew Catchpole, of Shotford Hall Farm, submitted a change of use application with South Norfolk Council to turn the café at Shotford Hall, formerly home to Marsh Larder, into a fitness and wellbeing hub.

The space will be used solely by personal trainers for use with clients and will not act as an open gym in a bid to minimise traffic in Low Road.

In addition, the site’s managers would also look at working with charities and other non-profit organisations to use the space as a community hub, particularly for young people.

While renovations will take place inside to convert the space, the outside of the building remains unaffected.

Rendering its decision, South Norfolk Council specified the gym could not open beyond 9pm.