A Shepton Mallet gym that's been flexing its muscles for 13 years is now battling to make its status official.

The Movement Gym, tucked away on the first floor of The Amulet in Market Place, has been grinding out workouts since 2013 — but never had formal planning permission. Now its landlord wants that put right.

A legal bid has been lodged with Somerset Council to confirm the gym's long-standing use is lawful and safe from enforcement. The application was submitted on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, and validated two days later.

Wells-based planning firm Hill Reading say the site has been "open, notorious, and uninterrupted" for over a decade, with no complaints, no enforcement action, and no change in how it's used. They say that's enough to secure a Certificate of Lawfulness under planning law.

The move falls under Section 191 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which allows unauthorised uses to be made lawful after ten years of continuous operation.

Somerset Council is now reviewing the case under reference 2026/0070/CLE. A decision is due in the coming weeks.

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