Former Formby Church Set for New Life as Children’s Gymnastics Centre

A former church building in Formby is set to begin an exciting new chapter after plans were approved to transform it into a dedicated gymnastics centre for children and young people.

The vacant St Jerome’s Church on Greenloons Drive, located within the grounds of St Jerome’s Primary School, has been granted planning permission by Sefton Council to become a new gymnastics facility run by former Olympic gymnast Dan Purvis.

The new venue will provide gymnastics classes for a wide range of ages and abilities, including parent and toddler sessions, pre-school classes, recreational gymnastics and advanced training for older children aged between 10 and 15. The plans also include occasional competitions, giving young gymnasts the opportunity to perform in a dedicated training environment.

Rather than making major structural changes, the project will preserve much of the character of the former church. The spacious main hall has been identified as an ideal location for gymnastics equipment, meaning only minimal internal alterations are needed. Refurbishment work will include redecorating the interior and installing an accessible toilet, while retaining the building’s existing layout and identity.

Planning documents state that the aim is to respect the building’s original character while bringing it back into active use for the benefit of the local community.

To help minimise disruption, gymnastics sessions will be staggered throughout the day, with advanced classes taking place in the evenings after school has finished. Peak school drop-off and pick-up times will be avoided to reduce traffic around the site.

The location already benefits from 56 on-site parking spaces, with only a small number expected to be occupied by staff throughout the day. Planning documents also note that additional on-street parking is available in the surrounding residential area when required.

Competition events are expected to take place on one Sunday every two months. These events could involve up to 24 young gymnasts, each accompanied by parents or guardians, and have been scheduled outside school hours to help ease parking pressures.

Externally, the building will remain largely unchanged, with the only visible difference being new signage for Dan Purvis Gymnastics.

As part of the planning approval, Sefton Council has restricted the operating hours of the centre to:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 8:00pm

• Saturday: 9:00am – 11:30am

• Sunday: 10:00am – 2:00pm

The approval will see a well-known Formby building brought back into use, creating a new community sports facility where local children can learn new skills, build confidence and enjoy gymnastics in a purpose-designed environment.