New Bexley Planning Applications: Sidcup Gym and Welling Mosque 2026

Key Points

• 24-Hour Gym Proposal: Anytime Fitness has submitted plans for a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week gym at 35–37 Sidcup High Street. The retail unit has been vacant since Poundland closed in November 2025.
• Planning Mechanism: According to MyLondon, Anytime Fitness says full planning permission is not required because the premises share a use class with the previous commercial tenant. The company has instead applied for a Certificate of Lawfulness (reference 26/01548/LDCP) from the London Borough of Bexley.
• Sidcup High Street Development: Funeral directors W. Uden & Sons have applied (reference 26/01540/FUL) to demolish their headquarters and the adjacent former Lloyds Bank building at 60–64 Sidcup High Street. The proposal includes a larger commercial unit and a two-storey block with seven flats.
• Welling Mosque Reopening: A planning application (reference 26/01537) seeks to bring a first-floor mosque back into use at 51 Upper Wickham Lane in Welling. The premises are above a Pizza Hut and the Red Barber Shop and would accommodate up to 100 people.
• Traveller Site and Housing Proposals: Other applications submitted to the South East London local authority include plans to demolish a dilapidated working men’s club to make way for housing and a proposal to expand a local Traveller site.

London (The Londoner News) August 24, 2026 – A wave of diverse planning applications submitted to the London Borough of Bexley has revealed major upcoming transformations across South East London, featuring proposals for a round-the-clock fitness hub, a community mosque reopening, inner-suburban housing developments, and the expansion of a Traveller site.

The local authority’s planning portal has been flooded with notable schemes that promise to reshape commercial and residential landscapes in Sidcup and Welling. Among the most prominent proposals is a commercial overhaul spearheaded by fitness giant Anytime Fitness, alongside residential expansions designed to address local housing demands.

Why is Anytime Fitness skipping full planning permission for the Sidcup High Street gym?

As reported by MyLondon, Anytime Fitness wants to open a new 24-hour fitness centre at 35–37 Sidcup High Street. The high-street unit has remained vacant following Poundland’s closure in November 2025. Under the proposals, the facility would welcome fitness enthusiasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Addressing the regulatory framework, MyLondon noted that Anytime Fitness has argued that full planning permission is not legally required for the transition. This is because the site’s intended use falls under the exact same category as the previous commercial operations run by Poundland.

Consequently, the company is pursuing an alternative regulatory route. As detailed in the planning records, Anytime Fitness is seeking a Certificate of Lawfulness from the London Borough of Bexley to formally establish that the site would operate under lawful use as a Class E commercial unit devoid of any restrictions on operating hours. Members of the public and local stakeholders can inspect and monitor this specific proposal via the Bexley Council planning portal under reference 26/01548/LDCP.

Explore more South London News:

South London Mother Faces Eviction Crisis, Southwark 2026

Met Police Foil Tooting Jewellery Heist in London 2026

What are the details of the W. Uden & Sons development on Sidcup High Street?

Moving further down the road, another substantial commercial and residential project has been tabled for 60–64 Sidcup High Street. Established back in 1881, the historic South East London funeral business W. Uden & Sons recently acquired the former Lloyds bank building located right next door to its existing Sidcup branch.

According to information covered by MyLondon, W. Uden & Sons has submitted a formal planning application bearing reference 26/01540/FUL. The project outlines plans to demolish both their current operational home and the vacant bank building. In their place, the business intends to construct a significantly larger commercial unit alongside a two-storey residential block housing seven new flats.

Local planning analysts view this application as part of a broader trend of high street restructuring, where traditional service providers are modernising their footprints while incorporating much-needed residential units into suburban town centres.

Who is behind the plan to reopen the Welling mosque?

Shifting focus to neighbouring Welling, religious and community infrastructure is also experiencing a potential revival. An application has been officially lodged to breathe new life into a local place of worship.

As highlighted by MyLondon, a planning application has been submitted under reference 26/01537 to reopen a 100-person capacity mosque located on the first floor of 51 Upper Wickham Lane. The premises occupy a prominent position directly above a Pizza Hut restaurant and the Red Barber Shop. If granted approval by Bexley Council planners, the site will restore dedicated community faith facilities to the busy Welling commercial corridor, catering to local worshippers who have faced restricted local options.

What other significant developments have been lodged with Bexley Council?

Beyond the high-profile gym, funeral home, and mosque applications, the South East London authority is reviewing several other cornerstone community projects that promise to alter the borough’s suburban layout.

As outlined by MyLondon, the newly submitted portfolio of planning applications features proposals to demolish a dilapidated working men’s club. While historical members’ clubs have faced structural declines across the capital due to changing social habits, the removal of this derelict building is slated to clear the path for fresh housing development, addressing local housing targets.

Additionally, formal plans have been lodged with the South East London authority aimed at expanding a local Traveller site. While details surrounding the exact capacity and boundary modifications of the site expansion are currently being reviewed by council case officers, the application highlights ongoing efforts within the borough to address accommodation needs for nomadic communities.

As these diverse applications move through the statutory consultation phases, residents, local business owners, and community groups will have opportunities to review the documentation, submit representations, and voice support or concerns via the London Borough of Bexley’s online planning portal before final determinations are reached by council committees.