A former hair salon will be changed into a music academy under proposals under consideration by council planners.

Stoked Academy Ltd wants a permanent home for its acting, singing and dancing lessons, film-making and podcast recording. It has asked for planning permission to turn the former Total Hair & Beauty salon on Middlesbrough Road, Stockton into a music academy run by up to five full-time staff.

The developer intends to team up with Total Fitness gym on the site to set up a base for the business. Details of the scheme have been sent to Stockton Council.

Agent Fahim Farooqui from Total Planning Solutions wrote in a supporting statement: “The applicant currently has over 40 students enrolled in the school with a waiting list to expand. The applicant has 20 years of teaching knowledge in this profession and has been utilising various premises throughout the borough as an ancillary use with no permanent residency, hence the proposed development being a base for the applicant’s new venture.

“The applicant’s business model now involves a partnership with Total Fitness gym, by adding a new business venture… and replacing the former hair salon known as ‘Total Hair and Beauty Salon’ which was vacated in September 2024.”

He said the applicant and gym operators had considered the financial viability of the new business, based on footfall from the gym and parents using a nearby nursery. He suggested parents “could utilise the facilities of the music academy whilst using both existing uses ie. gym and creche as a total package, which in turn increases the longevity and viability of the gym itself in this current economic climate”.

He added there would be no external changes to the building but “internal reconfiguration” for the appointment-based business. Proposed opening times between 10am and 10pm seven days a week, are said to mirror the gym’s.

He said in the planning statement: “It is considered that the scale and format of the business would not have impact on the vitality and viability of Stockton town centre and the on-going investment within the centre as it is considered this would be negligible. Therefore, on balance the proposed use is also considered not to significantly impact on the retail function of other district local centres.

“The proposed development is considered not to result in a harmful impact on the retail function of any centre and on this basis the principle of development is considered acceptable.

“The proposal is considered not to result in any significant detrimental impact on the character of the surrounding area and is considered acceptable in this respect…

 

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"The site is located within an isolated location away from any residential or commercial properties and is directly adjacent to a busy highway thoroughfare of Middlesbrough Road and A66.

“It is not considered that the proposed development will raise any issues of noise disturbance on neighbouring properties… It would in turn, improve the economic benefits of this gymnasium and small business and in turn improve the overall vitality and longevity of this existing gym.”