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 after claiming locals were "stalking her online".
From Dubai Dream to Norfolk Reality
Megan Smith spent three years training in wellness centres in Dubai before selling her possessions, including her car, to fund Pilates equipment. Upon returning to the UK, she moved into her grandparents' £825,000 home in North Wootton, King's Lynn, Norfolk. Together, they split the cost of converting a former swimming pool hut in the garden into a professional studio for her business, Luco Wellness, which launched on November 3.
Already boasting over 23,000 followers from her time abroad, Ms Smith applied for retrospective planning permission for the change of use. However, the application triggered fierce opposition from residents concerned about noise levels and customer parking.
Social Media Scrutiny and Neighbourhood Backlash
The conflict intensified when neighbours examined Ms Smith's Instagram, finding adverts for hen parties and corporate events. They argued the business was far grander than the small-scale studio initially proposed. "I have had these people looking at my social media and stalking me on there. It's bizarre," Ms Smith told The Mail.
She defended her marketing, blaming a generational gap in social media literacy. "They just don't understand social media. That's how I've built my business," she stated, adding that Instagram had been both her "best friend and my worst enemy".
Formal objections poured in, with one resident claiming the business would be a "detriment" to the area's character. A letter from a planning firm, instructed by locals, argued the activity level was "inappropriate within a predominantly residential area" and raised fears over highway safety due to inadequate parking.
Council Backs "Excellent" Business with Strict Conditions
Despite the objections, King's Lynn and West Norfolk councillors unanimously approved the retrospective application for a temporary one-year period. Councillor Richard Coates noted he could hear "no noise from the studio 'at all'" during a visit. Councillor Sue Lintern praised Ms Smith for "bringing forward a business in the current climate" and spotting a gap in the market for reformer Pilates.
Permission was granted with stringent conditions:
- Class times are strictly limited to specific windows, including Mondays and Thursdays (8am-12pm & 5pm-7pm) and Sundays (10am-1pm).
- No more than five people are allowed in a class at any one time.
- A 30-minute interval must be left between each session.
- Only five customer parking spaces are allocated on-site.
The council will review the decision in 2027 to ensure compliance. The business, which lists Megan and her grandfather Bernard as directors, has been a rapid success, welcoming 46 clients in its first week. It now hosts up to six classes daily and includes an on-site café, Luco Nourish, serving organic matcha lattes and acai bowls.
Deputy council leader Simon Ring expressed hope for reconciliation, calling Luco Wellness an "excellent business" and wishing for happiness to return to North Wootton.
