Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan
Gambling Activities and Alternative Financial Services
15.69 Sandwell Council wishes to minimise any negative impacts related to licensed gambling. Operators are expected to take account of Sandwell's Gambling Objectives as set out in its Gambling Statement of Principles[225] to safeguard those who participate in gambling activities.
15.70 A proliferation of gambling uses, payday loan shops and pawnbrokers are not considered compatible with the positive outcomes sought through town centre regeneration.
Policy SDM8 - Gambling Activities and Alternative Financial Services
- Planning permission for a payday loan shop, pawnbrokers', amusement arcade or betting shop within a retail centre will not be granted if to do so would cause an unacceptable grouping of uses that would have a negative impact on the character and vitality of the centre.
- A negative impact on the character of the centre is likely to occur when the following thresholds[226] are exceeded:
- Within a town centre: more than 5% of the number of ground floor units being in a gambling or arcade use.
- Within a district or local centre, or local shopping centre / parade: more than 10% of the number of ground floor units being a gambling or arcade use.
- In all locations: two or more uses immediately adjacent to each other.
- In all locations: less than two units in other uses between gambling or arcade uses.
- In calculating the existing or proposed percentage of units, payday loan shops, pawnbrokers, betting shops and arcade uses will be counted together.
- When applying the thresholds set out above:
- only ground floor units will be counted; and
- when rounding percentages, they will be rounded down.
- Proposals will be considered against the potential detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring uses, through increased noise and disturbance. They will also be required to provide an active frontage, through a permanent shop front and window display.
- In determining any planning application for all pay day loan shops, pawnbrokers, and gambling uses the Council will consider any issues concerning community safety, crime, and disorder and will, where necessary, seek advice from the police and other safety organisations.
Justification
15.71 This policy should be read in conjunction with the SLP's town centre policies.
15.72 To ensure that designated retail centres are diverse and balanced, applications for pay day loan shops, pawnbrokers and gambling uses will be assessed for their cumulative impact using the thresholds in section 2 of the policy. Planning permission will normally be refused where these thresholds are exceeded.
15.73 An oversupply of gambling uses displaces other potential high street activities and has the potential to impact on the vitality of retail centres within the borough. The proliferation and grouping of these uses within centres may also have social, economic and health implications for centres and surrounding communities.
15.74 Inactive frontages are detrimental to the character and vitality of the Borough's centres as they lack visual interest when compared to typical retail displays. It is important that the Borough's retail centres provide a vibrant and attractive proposition to customers and inactive frontages create a negative perception of these retail centres.
[226] Taken from the Knowsley Town Centre Uses SPD 2022