A GYMNASTICS club hopes to be able to double its capacity and make space for up to 300 children by moving to a vacant warehouse.

Torfaen Gymnastics Academy has been operating for around 20 years and provides instructor led training to some 150 children and young people from toddler age upwards.

The family-owned business has outgrown its current base at the Polo Grounds Industrial Estate in New Inn and wants planning permission to allow it to use vacant industrial units at Usk Vale Park, in Cwmoody, Pontypool, as a gymnastics centre.

A statement supporting the change of use application said the move will allow the club, which has a waiting list to join, to double in size: “Relocation will enable Torfaen Gymnastics club to expand its provision, improve training quality and safety, increase participation, and ensure long-term sustainability.

“It is anticipated that the new site would allow Torfaen Gymnastics Academy to double their intake of participants (i.e. it would permit an additional 150 members).”

The application states expansion to new premises would also support national and local priorities around children’s physical activity, health and wellbeing, safeguarding, and community sport participation.

The oversubscribed club currently employs two full-time and as many part-time staff and anticipates expansion to the new facility would create two further full-time roles while it would also be able to further rollout its youth leaders programme providing coaching experience to young people.

The planning statement also highlights Torfaen council documents that show a “sufficient range and choice of employment land and premises” will remain available if the units, currently approved for storage, industrial or offices, are allowed to be used for leisure use.

There are also other vacant units available, and currently being marketed nearby, and the statement, which also draws the council’s attention to its commitment to addressing health inequalities, says the new use would continue to support employment.

“Whilst the proposed development would result in a loss of B1/B2/B8 floorspace, it would continue to generate employment opportunities (including creating two initial new full-time positions with potential for more in the future, and an increased rollout of the youth leaders programme). As such, the site shall continue to provide employment opportunities.”

Opening hours would be from 4.30pm to 8.30pm Monday to Friday, with daytime openings for preschool and parent and baby classes, on two unspecified weekdays with Saturday opening from 9am to 5pm.

The units, with a total floorspace of 750 square metres, are at the south of Usk Vale Industrial Estate, which is also home to a Greggs and Ty Melin Bakery along with other retailers among storage and industrial uses, off the A4042.

There is a bus stop at the Waun-y-Clare Inn around 300 metres from the estate and there is a pedestrian crossing point across the trunk road with plans for walking and cycling routes in the area.

A total of 21 parking spaces, including disabled bays and space for vans, are proposed with a number immediately to the front of the site which the application states will “avoid any potential conflict with neighbouring units” and the remaining spaces are to the north of the site.

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The plan is being considered by the planning department and members of the public have until Monday, August 24 to comment.