A fitness coach might have to shut down his business due to angry neighbors complaining about the loud ‘deep bass beats’ emanating from his £125,000 home garage, which he converted into a fashionable gym.

In 2019, Glen Jepson received approval to construct the detached garage on a plot behind his house. He and his former partner later transformed it into a gym for one-on-one client training sessions.

Since then, the 38-year-old has grown his business to offer four different types of classes, including the increasingly popular Hyrox sessions, which run from 6.30am to 7.15pm.

The former Royal Navy Engineer has garnered strong support from patrons who claim his gym, SKWAT, has been a ‘lifeline’ for the community. However, not all share this sentiment.

Elderly residents near the property in Dibden Purlieu, Hampshire, state they are ‘inundated’ with loud music, preventing them from hearing their TV due to the fitness sessions.

Some have even lodged official complaints over the ‘deep, monotonous bass beats’ coming from his gym in their cul-de-sac.

Mr Jepson fears he may have his business closed down because the complaints have led to him having to seek retrospective planning permission.

The personal trainer denies that his studio is excessively noisy and insists that closing the gym would directly affect his ‘livelihood’ and ‘personal circumstances’.

Mr Jepson moved into his home in the New Forest village in 2016.

In 2019, he successfully obtained permitted development rights to build a detached garage on a plot of land to the rear of his home.

The personal trainer, who was then working in the oil industry, constructed the building for £125,000.

In 2020, Mr Jepson and his ex-partner opened SKWAT gym in the outbuilding, where they provided one-to-one training sessions to clients.

As of today, the business currently offers four different types of classes – including Hyrox and female only strength classes – which will take place at a maximum of five times a day between 06.30am and 7.15pm.

Hyrox is an indoor fitness competition that has soared in popularity over the last year, combining eight kilometres of running with eight fitness stations. 

Earlier this year, Mr Jepson was approached by a member of New Forest District Council who requested that he apply for planning permission for a change of use of the outbuilding to a gym.

It is understood that this occurred after someone complained to the council about the use of the building.

Mr Jepson lodged a change of use application, which has attracted both support and objections from locals and patrons of the fitness studio.

Neighbour Jennifer Croxson wrote that the gym is ‘completely inappropriate for a quiet, residential cul-de-sac’.

She said that while noise levels have recently decreased, ‘the deep, monotonous bass beats are still detectable as a feeling through the body making it unpleasant to sit outside when certain gym sessions are taking place.’

Simon and Paula Ince, who live a few doors down from the building, said they have ‘tolerated’ the gym for several years as being a ‘minor annoyance’. But, they said the gym has become more of a problem this year ‘due to loud music’.

In their complaint, Mr and Mrs Ince wrote: ‘On a number of occasions the music with its bass vibrations has been very apparent from our back garden, which is in the opposite corner of the Close…. At the time, we likened it to living near a nightclub.’

Neighbour Susan Harvey, who lives near the gym, wrote that while businesses like SKWAT are good for the community, the location of the gym is ‘not suitable’.

She said: ‘Every evening, and in fact multiple times a day we are subjected to loud music which we can hear over our television from two houses away.

‘My husband and I are both in our 80’s and our television is not quiet, but the music coming from this gym drowns it out as it is at an unacceptable level.’

Mr Harvey also claimed she is ‘unable to get to our house due to people running up and down the road’.

Another neighbour, Robert Wyatt, wrote: ‘Our bedrooms back on to the “gym” and we are awoken by the heavy bass booming from the building from as early as 6.30.

‘You cannot relax in the garden or have a window open without continually hearing this loud continuous bass music.

‘The neighbours should not be inundated constantly with loud music throughout the day.’

Neighbours also alleged that the gym’s patrons will park on the streets, which is an ‘unreasonable burden’ for them.

The application has garnered over 70 supporting comments from locals who spoke of the positive impact the gym has on the community.

Jack Stone, who is a user of the fitness studio, said the objections raised by neighbours is a ‘gross mischaracterisation’ of the noise and alleged disruption caused by the gym.

Julie Medley, who lives in the village of Dibden, described SKWAT fitness studio as an ‘excellent very personal small gym’ which is ‘loved and respected by many’.

She said the noise of the classes are ‘unobtrusive’ and that the building must be ‘fairly insulated against noise’.

Another Dibden local, Chloe Jones, said she has been attending classes at the studio since it opened in 2020, commenting that SKWAT is ‘a fantastic asset to the local community’.

‘The music has always been considerate and respectful and is always lowered when the doors are opened for [the] beginning or end of classes,’ she said.

Gym owner Mr Jepson said that all instructors are trained in the correct use of the sound equipment, which is ‘pre-set to a maximum volume below legal thresholds’.

He said staff will reduce the volume significantly before and after class times to ‘ensure noise does not cause disturbance when clients are arriving or leaving’.

And, Mr Jepson said that free weights are ‘seldom dropped’, but when the are, the noise outside the building is ‘negligible and barely audible’.

‘The gym’s operations do not generate significant adverse noise impacts on the surrounding environment or neighbouring properties,’ he added.

Mr Jepson said the facility operates on an appointment-only basis with a maximum of 12 clients per session.

He rejected issues raised over parking, and said that he has space for 15 cars on his property.

Mr Jepson claims that the business is playing music loudly all day are false, as they only run a maximum of five classes per day.

Speaking of the application, Mr Jepson said if the business were to shut down, then this would impact his ‘livelihood’ and would affect his ‘personal circumstances’.

Mr Jepson said he will do ‘whatever I can do to fight to make the business stay’ because he has a ‘passion’ about what they do for their clients and local community.

He said: ‘Since its establishment, SKWAT has grown into a valued and well-utilised community asset.

‘It has become a place where individuals of all backgrounds, including shift workers, parents, and those new to exercise, feel empowered to take control of their health.

‘The building itself has been converted to a high standard, maintaining the aesthetic of a domestic outbuilding while functioning internally as a purpose-built fitness space.

‘As outlined in the accompanying Design and Access Statement, the scale, design, and use of the facility are in keeping with the local character and do not detract from neighbouring properties.’