A married couple in Southampton have sparked a significant local planning controversy with their proposals to dramatically extend the commercial operating hours of their unique back-garden pole dancing and aerial fitness business. The dispute has pitted entrepreneurial ambition against residential tranquillity, creating tensions on their suburban street.
Extended Hours Proposal Meets Fierce Opposition
Diego Altamirano, 48, and his wife Beike Himestra, 45, currently operate their Be In The Sky studio from an outbuilding in their rear garden between 5.30pm and 9pm on weekdays. However, they have now submitted a planning application seeking permission to run classes from 9.15am onwards and extend weekend operations to between 10am and 6pm for specialised workshops.
Additionally, Mrs Himestra has applied to increase the maximum number of clients permitted in the building from eight to ten, though this expansion would specifically apply only to their yoga and theatre classes rather than their fitness sessions. The couple argue these changes would allow them to offer more diverse wellbeing workshops while maintaining their commitment to quality and safety.
Neighbourhood Concerns Over Parking and Noise
Local residents have voiced substantial objections to the proposed expansion, with parking availability emerging as the primary concern. Terry Adams, an 80-year-old resident who has lived on the road for over 45 years, described the existing parking situation as problematic and warned that extended business hours would create a "nightmare" for homeowners.
"This is a private residential street," Mr Adams emphasised. "The problem here is that you get no parking. Because of the gym, if we go out for the day and come home in the evening there's nowhere to park. Is that fair?"
Darren Munday, who lives directly next door to the studio, echoed these parking concerns, noting particular difficulties between 6pm and 9pm when existing classes operate. "It's a nightmare with parking," he stated. "You can't get places between six and nine in the evening so you can't go and see the rugby or anything."
Noise Disturbance Worries
Beyond parking issues, residents have expressed apprehension about potential noise disturbances from increased activity at the studio. While some neighbours acknowledge that current noise levels are manageable, they worry that extended hours and more frequent sessions could change this dynamic.
Mr Munday noted that during showcase events on Sundays, "you get hundreds turning up," creating significant additional activity on the street. While he described noise from evening classes as generally acceptable – "you get a bit of a cackle of ladies outside but otherwise the noise isn't too bad" – the prospect of daytime operations raises new concerns.
The Couple's Defence and Business Vision
Mr Altamirano has responded to neighbour concerns by emphasising the couple's commitment to being considerate operators. "We want to provide good classes and we don't want to put too many people in here," he explained. "Quality and safety is very important to us."
The couple, who have lived in the area for ten years and have a nine-year-old son, argue they are trying to create a specialised space that Southampton currently lacks, similar to facilities available in cities like Brighton and Bristol. They point out that their studio contains no noisy machinery, relying instead on poles, silks, and ropes for their aerial and pole fitness classes.
Noise Assessments and Parking Solutions
To address noise concerns, the couple conducted professional noise assessments during classes and designed their building specifically to contain sound. "This building is built in a way so you don't hear anything," Mr Altamirano asserted. "We only have music at a low level because it is not a gym and it is more of a background thing."
Regarding parking, the business owners have implemented a system directing clients to use spaces at a nearby Sainsbury's supermarket rather than residential street parking. Mr Altamirano claims they have conducted surveys showing available parking during proposed daytime hours and note they've received only two parking complaints in three years of operation.
"We tell our clients to park in Sainsbury's," he said. "We know that they do because they finish the classes and they run there."
Council Assessment and Decision Process
Southampton City Council planning officers have reviewed the application and are recommending approval at an upcoming panel meeting. Their report acknowledges that extending operating hours "would result in an intensification of the site and could result in noise impacts to neighbouring properties," primarily from additional comings and goings.
However, officers note that organised sessions would be limited to two or three per day and participant numbers would not regularly exceed currently permitted levels. The council must now balance the couple's business aspirations against legitimate residential concerns about parking availability and neighbourhood character.
The decision will test how local authorities manage the growing trend of home-based businesses in residential areas, particularly those offering unconventional services like pole fitness and aerial arts. With both sides presenting compelling arguments, the council's verdict will have significant implications for the future of this Southampton street and potentially similar disputes elsewhere.
