A 24-year-old Pilates influencer has emerged victorious from a bitter planning dispute with her neighbours, securing permission to keep her £30,000 garden studio in King's Lynn, Norfolk.
The Backstory: From Dubai to a Garden Hut
Megan Smith spent three years training in wellness centres in Dubai before selling her possessions, including her car, to fund her Pilates equipment. Upon returning to the UK, she moved into her grandparents' £825,000 home in North Wootton, King's Lynn. Together, they invested £30,000 to convert a former swimming pool hut in the garden into a professional Pilates studio, launching her business, Luco Wellness, on November 3.
Ms Smith, who had already built a social media following of over 23,000 from her time in Dubai, applied for retrospective planning permission for the change of use. However, the application sparked fierce local opposition.
Neighbourhood Objections and 'Social Media Stalking'
Residents raised significant concerns about potential noise from classes and inadequate customer parking, fearing disruption to their quiet, residential area. The conflict escalated when neighbours examined Ms Smith's Instagram, finding promotions for hen parties and corporate events.
They argued this suggested a larger-scale operation than the small studio presented to the council. In response, Ms Smith told The Mail that locals were "stalking me online" and setting up accounts to monitor her. She defended her business model, stating her reformer classes host only five people at a time and blaming a generational gap in social media understanding. "They just don't understand social media. That's how I've built my business," she said.
Formal objections, including a letter from a planning firm instructed by residents, claimed the business would be a "detriment" to the area's character, generating unacceptable noise and traffic. One neighbour lamented, "We would not have anticipated having a business operating there."
Council Approval and Strict Conditions
Despite the objections, King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council councillors unanimously approved the retrospective application for a temporary period of one year. Councillor Richard Coates noted he could hear "no noise from the studio 'at all'" during a visit.
The permission comes with strict conditions to mitigate impact:
- Classes are restricted to specific hours on weekdays and weekends, with no sessions on Wednesdays or Fridays.
- A maximum of five people are allowed per class.
- A 30-minute interval must separate each session.
- Only five customer parking spaces are permitted, with a one-way system implemented.
The decision will be reviewed again in 2027. Councillors praised Ms Smith for bringing "something different to West Norfolk," with Deputy Leader Cllr Simon Ring describing Luco Wellness as an "excellent business."
A Flourishing Wellness Venture
Despite the controversy, the business has seen early success, welcoming 46 clients in its first week. It now hosts up to six classes daily, priced from £23 for a single session to £40 for a private lesson. The studio also boasts an on-site café, Luco Nourish, serving organic matcha lattes and acai bowls.
The company lists Megan and her grandfather, Bernard, as directors. Councillor Sue Lintern voiced support, stating, "I applaud this young lady for bringing forward a business in the current climate... She has spotted a gap in the market."
