Brent Council approved a plan in February by Star Commercial Property to turn the former Lloyd’s bank at the junction of Walm Lane and High Road in Willesden, into a bingo hall.
Just two months after winning approval, the same company made a new application for the premises to widen its remit to an ‘adult gaming centre’, which was approved earlier this month (September 10).
More than 60 residents objected, with some saying they were “shocked and deeply disappointed” to learn of the plans, claiming gambling premises contribute to increased antisocial behaviour and pose a “threat to the safety and wellbeing” of people in the area. Brent East MP Dawn Butler also objected to the plan, citing existing gambling problems and impacts within the borough.
One objector suggested the saturation of gambling sites in Brent “runs counter to the objective of promoting a balanced, diverse, and inclusive local economy” by discouraging footfall from families and vulnerable community groups.
Another claimed replacing a community asset such as a bank, is a “clear detriment” to the area. They added: “We already have a Ladbrokes betting shop and casino, which is more than sufficient gaming facilities for this community. To suggest that this change will add viability and vitality to the Willesden Green shopping centre is wholly disingenuous and misleading.”
Brent Council’s Local Plan imposes a cap on the proliferation of adult gaming centres, pawn brokers and pay-day loan shops on high streets, meaning they can’t exceed three per cent of town centre shop frontages. The latest approval, alongside two existing adult gaming centres and two pawn shops, brings the concentration to 2.54 per cent of frontages – falling just short of the threshold, therefore the committee felt there was no basis for refusal.
Cllr Liz Dixon was the only member of Brent Council’s planning committee to vote against the scheme, describing it as “a shame” that the committee is having to look at replacing a bank with a gambling site.
She said: “I feel there is an impact on the local character and conservation area. The proposal doesn’t positively contribute to the vibrancy of the high street or respect the character of the conservation area.
“I feel there is harm by an establishment that is now an adult gaming centre and on that level I feel it fails to align with the local and national policies in trying to provide healthy streets. We have too many gambling establishments.”
Council officers explained that the number of objections received “wouldn’t influence decisions” as they have to consider applications “in line with planning policies”.
Brent Council and Ms Butler have both been campaigning to change planning rules to “tackle the rapid spread of gambling establishments”. Following the decision, Brent Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Mili Patel, again reiterated the local authority’s goal of abolishing the current ‘aim to permit’ rule.
Cllr Patel said: “On Wednesday, Brent added yet another adult gaming centre to the long list of gambling shops ruining our town centres – despite many objections to the planning application. Willesden Green has a high street with untapped potential, filled with thriving independent businesses. It should be easy for Brent’s planning committee to reject premises which are harmful to public health and where they are also opposed by residents. But it isn’t simple.
“A national law means that local authorities are constrained in their ability to object to licensing applications because the Gambling Act contains an ‘aim to permit’ rule, tilting towards granting premises licences rather than addressing gambling harms. We believe gambling is a public health issue and should be treated no differently to fast food, smoking and vaping.
“What’s more, gambling is big business in our borough – but the companies behind these harmful products put very little back into the local economy, while leaving damage in their wake. It’s not escaped our notice that the company that owns the former bank – which is the soon-to-be adult gaming centre – is registered in and subject to the tax regime of the Channel Islands.”
Brent is home to 102 gambling premises, including betting shops, casinos, and adult gaming centres – many of which are just mere steps away from one another. Over the summer, Ms Butler submitted a parliamentary motion calling for legislative changes to the Gambling Act in order to give local authorities greater power to refuse new gambling premises “where there is clear evidence of community harm”.
She said: “Local councils can currently block fast food outlets from opening near schools to protect young people — so why are they powerless to prevent the opening of gambling venues, even when the harm is well-documented?
“Nearly one person a day dies by suicide linked to gambling addiction; this is a public health crisis, and it’s time our planning laws reflect that and stop these gambling companies prying on communities that are often vulnerable and deprived. It’s time to scrap the ‘aim to permit’ law. We must reclaim our high streets and communities, as the real gamble is doing nothing.”
