The Royal Borough has blocked a set of plans to turn two agricultural outbuildings at a farm in Cookham into indoor recreation studios. Jerome Challen, director of Challen’s Chicks Farm, was looking to convert the buildings in Winter Hill Road, used as chicken shelters, into a studio for yoga, Pilates and tai chi classes. Similar proposals for converting the space into flexible commercial use were submitted to the council in 2023 and in July 2025. In another attempt to get planning permission, Mr Challen submitted a revised application in November 2025 addressing the council’s previous concerns. One resident agreed, saying noise from classes would be ‘unneighbourly’ and ‘pollute the peace and tranquillity’ between neighbours.

Source: Express January 03, 2026 10:04 UTC