Hackney Council's Planning Sub-Committee has granted temporary planning permission for a 16-person sauna to be installed at The Castle Climbing Centre. The decision, made at a meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, allows for the demolition of an existing timber shelter and the temporary construction and use of the sauna for a period of five years.
The proposal, which faced 12 objections from local residents citing concerns about loss of privacy, noise, impact on views and light, light pollution, and the precedent for further development, was approved subject to several conditions. The applicants highlighted the sauna's potential for community building and wellbeing, its modest scale, and its temporary nature. They assured the committee that it would be a controlled facility with a supervisor on site and that noise mitigation measures would be in place.
During the meeting, councillors discussed various aspects of the proposal. Councillor Anntoinette Bramble declared an interest due to prior contact with the organisation but did not consider it a conflict. She inquired about consultation with the Stoke Newington Conservation Area Committee and the nature of internal consultation conditions. These were clarified by the planning officer, relating to the operational management plan, hours of operation, sustainable drainage, biodiversity, and trees. Specifically, conditions for the operational management plan and hours of operation were informed by the Environmental Protection Officer's input. The sustainable drainage condition came from the flooding and drainage officer, while the biodiversity officer's conditions related to bats and sustainable drainage. The landscape and tree officer's conditions were tree-related.
Councillor Jas Crowe raised concerns about the accessibility of the gradient leading to the sauna. The applicant explained that while the sauna itself would be accessible, the existing path's gradient posed challenges for full wheelchair accessibility. The current gradient of the path is described as steep and not DDA compliant. The applicant plans to cover the existing earth path with rubber matting to protect the ground and roots. Full wheelchair accessibility to the site is not currently possible due to the gradient of the existing path and tree protection orders. The committee agreed to add a condition for a future plan to improve accessibility, and the applicant discussed potential future strategies, including the possibility of cutting through existing community garden beds to create a level path, though this has not been approved.
Councillor Kwame Otiende questioned the applicant about their experience and the affordability of the sauna. The applicant stated they had run similar facilities and aimed to be the most affordable operator in London and the UK. When they initially started in 2021, they capped sessions at £10. Currently, they are closer to the £15 mark, with prices expected to rise annually due to economic factors. A £15 session (recently increased to £16) provides 90 minutes of sauna use, which they state is incredibly low per minute. They also offer concessions, though specific pricing structures for concessions were not detailed. The chair noted that affordability was not a material planning consideration.
Councillor Reiner Tegtmeyer raised concerns about potential noise. The applicant responded that the sauna itself would not be a significant source of noise, but acknowledged the access route as a potential concern. Noise mitigation measures for the sauna include a maximum occupancy of 16 people and directed lighting. The effectiveness of these measures will be monitored through an operational management plan that needs to be submitted for approval. This plan will cover user conduct and facility upkeep, specifically addressing management responsibilities and customer management measures to ensure the operation does not result in undue noise and disturbance. The council's Environmental Protection Officers have no objections subject to conditions. The plan is a condition for the first use of the sauna.
The sauna will have an active mechanical extract system for ventilation, discharging warm, moist air at up to 100°C, tempered to not exceed 50°C at the point of discharge. The terminal will be a louvred vent cover oriented upwards and away from retained trees. Lighting will be designed to minimize light spill and glare towards neighboring properties and bat species, with conditions requiring approval of a lighting scheme that adheres to Bat Conservation Trust guidelines, uses low-intensity lighting, and maintains dark corridors. The lighting will be turned off outside operational hours.
The committee voted to grant planning permission, subject to conditions including a five-year time limit for the sauna's use, and the submission of details for ventilation, lighting, an operational management plan, and sustainable drainage. The meeting agenda and public reports pack can be found on the council's website.
Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 02-Sep-2026 18.30 Planning Sub-Committee.pdf Public reports pack Wednesday 02-Sep-2026 18.30 Planning Sub-Committee.pdf
