New women’s pilates, yoga, and therapy centre has received the go-ahead from council planners

Kieran Molloy, Local democracy reporter

A new women’s pilates, yoga, and therapy centre has received the go-ahead from council planners.

The application reads: “The applicant [Glow Wellness] aims to create a specialist women’s wellness hub at The Lofts combining pilates, yoga, pre- and postnatal support, women’s health education, and therapeutic services including massage therapy and talk therapy.”

It continues: “They aim to create a nurturing, expert-led environment where women feel supported through every life stage — from teenage years through pregnancy, postnatal recovery, menopause, and beyond.”

The property, The Loft, Fairoak House, located in Fairoak Road in Cardiff, occupies the first floor of a terrace of commercial properties, spanning the width of three ground-floor retail units.

This proposal would be the fourth premises operated by the company, which currently operates three specialist reformer pilates studios, an instructor academy, and a women’s health education platform.

The application reads: “It is suggested that the use of the site will be in keeping with and complementary to the vitality and mix within the area and will not have a negative impact on the amenity of the surrounding properties or the area as a whole.”

Opening hours are given in planning documents as 6.30am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm on Saturday, and 8am to 6pm on Sundays.

Pilates and yoga classes will be limited to a class size of eight to 12 people with one or two instructors/practitioners on site at any given time.

According to the applicant the classes are “generally calm and quiet with no amplified music beyond standard class levels”.

Class times will be staggered throughout the day with no late-night activity to “maintain a calm, respectful day-to-day operation”.

It is expected that five to six staff members will be employed on a part-time basis with a maximum of two staff on site at any one time.

The proposal is expected to “generate minimal noise and waste”.

According to the application there is a “strong demand” for the applicant’s services demonstrated by “waitlists for classes, oversubscribed courses, and a high retention of customers.”