Rosslyn Park Crossfit Gym Stuck in Planning Limbo
Has waited 18 months for permission to convert office building
A visualisation of the proposed Crossfit facility in the corner of the rugby ground
August 7, 2026
The future of a proposed CrossFit facility within the Rosslyn Park rugby ground in Roehampton remains uncertain after more than 18 months without a planning decision from Wandsworth Council, leaving the business, its staff and more than 100 members in a prolonged state of limbo. The application, which seeks permission to replace an existing office building with a purpose-built CrossFit gym, has attracted over 400 supportive comments, an unusually high level of public backing for a small-scale development. There have been over forty comments made by local residents objecting to the application. The council is still accepting comments on the application.
The operators say the delay has created significant instability for the business and the community that relies on it. The proposal is intended to provide “a permanent home for a growing community committed to improving health, fitness and mental wellbeing,” and the uncertainty has left “local employment opportunities at risk and members facing the prospect of losing access to the coaching, structure and community that have become an important part of their lives.”
CrossFit’s owners argue that the facility offers more than a traditional gym, providing coached programmes suitable for all ages and abilities, and acting as a support network for members who rely on it for both physical and mental wellbeing. They also highlight the wider public health context, noting that regular physical activity is encouraged by the NHS to help prevent long-term conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Losing access to local opportunities to exercise, they say, would undermine those efforts.
The council declined to comment on the specifics of the application, other than to confirm that a decision is expected “in the next few weeks.” It also noted that the proposed gym is located on Metropolitan Open Land, meaning the operator is proceeding at its own risk until formal permission is granted.
The CrossFit community has now begun urging residents, councillors and local MPs to support a timely resolution. The operators say: “We understand that planning applications must be carefully considered, but after waiting more than 18 months, we believe our community deserves a decision… Every week that passes without a decision creates more uncertainty for the people who depend on this facility.”
The planning application, reference 2025/1743, remains available to view on Wandsworth Council’s planning portal, where members of the public can continue to submit comments.
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