Key Points
- Planning Permission Approved: Rosslyn Park FC has been granted formal planning permission for a permanent outdoor CrossFit gym on their premises.
- Longstanding Controversy: This decision comes more than four years since Wandsworth Council took enforcement action in 2022 because of the installation of the gym in a wrong place.
- MOL: It is important to state that the location has the status of Metropolitan Open Land (MOL). It means that the site has the same protection from any wrong development as the Green Belt does.
- Support Letters: There were 435 support letters which underlined the importance of this facility for people’s health.
- Opposition Letters: 47 opposition letters were written by the residents due to issues of noise, traffic, and construction on the protected site.
- Conditions Attached: Wandsworth Council approved the application with conditions – namely, independent noise assessments and the fact that the gym should be mainly used by the rugby club to comply with the sports development exceptions.
- Working Time: Gym can be opened from 6am to 8pm on the weekdays, from 8am to 11am on the Saturdays and from 9am to 11am on Sundays.
Roehampton (Extra London News) August 18, 2026 – London’s “first” outdoor CrossFit gym has been granted a permanent home on the grounds of a historic rugby club following a protracted four-year planning battle with local authorities. The decision, handed down by Wandsworth Council, permits Rosslyn Park FC to install the facility after the club was previously forced to remove an unauthorised iteration of the gym in 2024 following an unsuccessful planning appeal.
Why was the CrossFit gym in limbo for so many years?
The journey to establish a permanent home for the facility has been fraught with regulatory hurdles. As reported by Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter for MyLondon, the dispute began in 2022 when Wandsworth Council took enforcement action against Rosslyn Park FC for installing the gym in an unauthorised area of the site.
The land in question is designated as Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), an area that carries stringent protections against inappropriate development, comparable to the standards applied to the Green Belt. After failing to overturn the council’s enforcement notice in 2024, the club was compelled to remove the structure. However, the club subsequently submitted a revised planning application, proposing the demolition of an existing office building on the grounds to repurpose the space as a permanent, compliant home for the CrossFit facility.
How did the local community respond to the proposal?
The planning application drew a highly polarised response from the local community. According to official council documentation analysed by MyLondon, the proposal received an overwhelming 435 letters of support. Proponents of the scheme emphasised the facility’s importance not merely as a gym, but as a vital community hub.
One member, quoted in the report by Charlotte Lillywhite, stated: “This proposal is about far more than a building. It is about protecting local jobs, supporting small businesses and providing a welcoming space where people can improve their physical and mental health.”
Conversely, the project faced opposition from 47 residents who formalised their objections to the council. These residents expressed concerns regarding potential noise pollution, the impact on neighbouring properties, increased traffic, and the ethics of building on land protected by the MOL designation.
What conditions has Wandsworth Council imposed on the gym?
In their ruling, council officers acknowledged that the facility offers tangible benefits to the club’s sporting infrastructure and the wider community but stipulated strict conditions to mitigate the concerns raised by objectors.
As noted by MyLondon, a primary condition requires that the gym be subject to independent noise assessments. The club is obligated to implement measures to reduce sound levels should the noise output exceed acceptable standards. Furthermore, the council has mandated that more than half of the gym’s annual operating hours must be dedicated to the club’s rugby team. This condition is crucial, as it aligns the development with the “exception” criteria for building on Metropolitan Open Land—specifically, the provision of facilities that support and enhance outdoor sports.
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What is the significance of the gym for Rosslyn Park FC?
The CrossFit facility serves as a vital component of the club’s wider sports offering. Planning documents submitted to the council, as cited in the MyLondon report, clarify that the gym was previously the “principal training facility” for the club’s playing members. Beyond the professional squad, the facility provided an essential training space for approximately 120 non-members, split equally between men and women.
The documents further articulated the financial necessity of the facility, stating, “In this capacity it made an important contribution to supporting the club’s financial viability.” With the new approval, the club aims to reinstate these training opportunities, ensuring that the facility remains a cornerstone for both competitive rugby training and broader public fitness.
What are the operational hours for the new facility?
Following the council’s approval, the gym is now cleared for operation with clearly defined hours intended to balance user access with the amenity of nearby residents. The permitted operating times are as follows:
- Monday to Friday: 6am to 8pm
- Saturday: 8am to 11am
- Sunday: 9am to 11am
By establishing these specific windows, the council seeks to manage the impact of the facility on the surrounding Roehampton and Barnes areas, effectively drawing the curtain on a saga that has dominated local planning discussions for the better part of half a decade.
The CrossFit gym’s official website continues to market the facility as London’s first outdoor CrossFit gym, maintaining that its curriculum remains accessible to all fitness levels, including complete beginners. With the regulatory dust finally settled, the club is now positioned to restore a facility that many in the community view as essential for their physical and mental wellbeing.
