The green and gold clock on the corner of 6 High Street, still showing the M&Co logo on its face, against a blue sky above the mock-Tudor frontage
The clock still says M&Co. Time, perhaps, for a change

When we last checked in on the former M&Co at 6 High Street in August, the ground floor was being stripped out and the agents had it marked "Under Offer" to a tenant they weren't naming. Now we know who it is: STRONG Pilates.

STRONG's own website lists a Harpenden studio at 6 High St, AL5 2TB, and its sign-up page says it's coming in early 2027, with no exact date yet. The studio has started posting as @strong_harpenden on Instagram, and you can join a "founder list" for early access, though there's no word yet on prices.

If you've not come across it, STRONG is an Australian Pilates franchise with more than 90 studios worldwide, by its own count. Its signature trick is bolting a rowing machine onto a reformer bed, which it calls a Rowformer. Classes run for 45 minutes and range from pure Pilates to mostly strength work, with various mixes of Pilates, cardio and weights in between. It's a workout for anyone who can't choose between the rowing machine and the reformer, and would rather not have to.

The stripped-out ground floor of the former M&Co, with stacks of concrete blocks, a yellow stepladder, props supporting the ceiling and an opened-up section of ceiling joists
Inside the ground floor, where the work has moved on from August's rubble

Upstairs is a different story. Cheek Development's plan to turn the upper floors into flats has now been refused for a third time, on 16 September, after earlier refusals in March and June. Each time the reason was flood risk. The council's officer found the developer's own flood report contradicted itself: one section said residents could walk out through about 150mm of water in a once-in-1,000-years storm, while another advised them to stay upstairs. The county's flood team hadn't objected, subject to conditions, and nor had a single neighbour.

A green council planning notice headed "This might affect you!" for application 5/2026/1414 at 6 High Street, for prior approval to turn the upper floors into homes while keeping the ground floor commercial
The notice for attempt number three, refused on 16 September

After years of blank windows, it's genuinely good to be welcoming a new tenant to a corner of the High Street that's long overdue some love and attention. As for upstairs, we'll see whether Mr Cheek and his team fancy fourth time's the charm. We'll report back on both as we learn more.

The STRONG Harpenden Cheat Sheet

  • The Location: 6 High Street, the former M&Co next to The George.
  • The Offer: 45-minute classes on reformers with rowing machines attached, from pure Pilates to mostly strength.
  • The Opening: Early 2027. Join the founder list for early access.
  • The Upstairs: Flats refused for a third time, over flood risk.
High Street