A social media influencer has secured planning approval to continue operating her £30,000 Pilates studio in the garden of her grandparents' Norfolk property, despite fierce opposition from neighbours.
Megan Smith, 24, was granted temporary permission for one year by King's Lynn and West Norfolk borough council on Monday, following a dispute over the wellness business she launched without prior consent.
The former Dubai-based fitness instructor converted an old swimming pool hut at the £825,000 Kings Lynn home into Luco Wellness, which opened its doors on 3 November.
Local residents submitted 20 letters objecting to the venture, citing concerns about noise levels, inadequate parking, early morning classes and pedestrian safety risks.
An equal number of supporters also wrote to the council backing the application.
The council imposed strict conditions on the studio's operation, significantly curtailing its original schedule of up to six daily classes running from 6am.
Under the new rules, sessions may only take place on Mondays and Thursdays between 8am and midday and from 5pm to 7pm, with Tuesday and Saturday classes permitted from 9am to midday.
Sunday and bank holiday sessions are restricted to 10am until 1pm.
The social media influencer has won planning approval
|LUCO WELLNESS
Each class must be limited to a maximum of five participants, with mandatory half-hour gaps between sessions.
The on-site café, Luco Nourish, which serves matcha lattes and açai bowls, is only permitted to operate during class times and exclusively for studio attendees.
Councillor Richard Coates, who monitored sound levels during a visit, criticised Ms Smith for launching without permission. "They went about it badly," he told the Telegraph.
Ms Smith accused local residents of monitoring her Instagram account to build their case against the business, which she funded by selling her possessions including her car after returning from three years abroad.
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The business received warm endorsements from several councillors
|LUCO WELLNESS
"I have had these people looking at my social media and stalking me on there. It's bizarre. They're setting up accounts so they can stalk me," she told the Mail.
Neighbours had discovered advertisements for hen parties and corporate events on her profile, arguing the operation was far larger than the small-scale studio presented to planners.
Ms Smith dismissed these concerns, attributing the backlash to generational unfamiliarity with digital marketing.
"They just don't understand social media. That's how I get all of my clients. That's how I've built my business," she said.
The business received warm endorsements from several councillors during Monday's meeting.
Councillor Sue Lintern expressed her full support, stating: "I applaud this young lady for bringing forward a business in the current climate. Having looked for a reformer Pilates class myself, there are very few of them. She has spotted a gap in the market that will hopefully take off well for her."
Council deputy leader Simon Ring described Luco Wellness as "an excellent business" and expressed hope that relations with neighbours would improve.
"I hope the neighbours can get back to how they once were and support this," he said. "Hopefully happiness will come back to North Wootton."
The planning committee will reassess the arrangement in January 2027 to determine whether the imposed conditions have been met.