New massage and hot stone therapy parlour planned Lowestoft

Change of use plans could see "empty office space" in Lowestoft converted into a massage and hot stone therapy facility - provided proposals get the go-ahead.

Two schemes, centring around change of use and non illuminated advertisement consent, have been lodged for the vacant former Staff Bank building on Battery Green Road.

The plans, which are currently "awaiting decision", were submitted to East Suffolk Council on May 10.

What the new massage and hot stone therapy parlour proposed for the vacant former Staff Bank property in Lowestoft could look like after plans were lodged. Picture: Body Skin Health Ltd (Image: Body Skin Health Ltd)

Schemes centring around "Change of use from office (Use Class E) to a (Sui Generis) Massage and Hot Stone Therapy" and "Non Illuminated Advertisement Consent - Various signage" have been proposed for the property that is currently to let.

The plans submitted by applicant Mr Meng Keong Loh to East Suffolk Council lists the company name as Body Skin Health Ltd, which is based in Covent Garden, London.

The planning application for the main change of use plans state: "The proposed development only involves the conversion of an existing office space into a massage and hot stone therapy facility without expanding the existing building footprint."

A new massage and hot stone therapy parlour could open in Lowestoft after plans were lodged. Picture: Body Skin Health Ltd (Image: Body Skin Health Ltd)

With the property at the OWL Building in Battery Green Road previously utilised as an office for recruitment consultants Staff Bank, it adds: "The current use of the site is vacant.

"The last usage was an office - employment centre - on January 20, 2024."

With proposals "to transition the office space to a (Sui Generis) Massage and Hot Stone Therapy," it adds: "The proposed development will involve converting the three existing office rooms into therapeutic massage and hot stone therapy rooms."

With one office room also to be transformed into a bathroom, it adds: "The internal restructuring will be minimal, utilising the existing partition walls to create the massage rooms.

"The external façade of the building will retain its current appearance, with the only addition being the change of signage to reflect the presence of the new business.

"All the signs will not be illuminated."

With the the site area measuring 153.12sq m, the application adds that two full time and one part time roles are proposed.

East Suffolk Council is likely to make a decision in the coming weeks.