A FORMER music shop will be turned into a new martial arts school.

Blue Dragon Combat Ltd has been granted permission to convert Note-Ability, in Premier Parade, Townhill Park, into a martial arts gym for the community.

It will become the group’s first permanent home, after it hosted training sessions in Bitterne Park Reformed Church.

As part of the plans, which were submitted to Southampton City Council last month, the former retail space will be fitted out with a matted floor and matted walls, as well as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) cage panels.

Despite the proposals being given the green light, there were some objections to the application from nearby residents and shop owners.

Jessica Lai from restaurant Shanghai Garden, which is next door to the proposed site, said the change “would have negative impacts to the surrounding area”.

She said: “I am concerned that not enough has been proposed by the applicant to address noise from the intended use.

“The applicant’s proposed opening hours coincide with and extend beyond my shop’s opening hours.

“I would therefore like to object on the ground of noise impact on the grounds my shop immediately adjoins 5 Premier Parade and would be immediately and most heavily impacts by any noise generated.”

The gym will host a wide array of martial arts lessons, yoga and personal training sessions.

The group says the centre will stay open between 9am and 10pm on Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 2pm on Sunday.

A statement in the plan said: “The Premier Parade Complex is currently comprised of solely retails shops.

“We believe our facility would breathe fresh life into the site and attract more custom into the parade.

“We have been operating from a church hall which is located in a residential area for a number of years, and have never had any complaints regarding noise levels from our classes.

“Our code of conduct for students includes always being respectful to our neighbours and the surrounding area.”