The plans by Palace Amusements to open an adult gaming centre at the former Lloyds Bank branch in Green Lanes was refused by Enfield Council last year
Lloyds Bank in Green Lanes and (inset) Palace Amusements
The gambling company behind plans for an adult gaming centre in Palmers Green is appealing against Enfield Council’s decision to refuse permission.
Palace Amusements wants to open the venue inside the former Lloyds Bank branch at 369-371 Green Lanes, on a stretch of the road that is already home to four betting shops and a Merkur Slots gaming centre that opened in 2021 despite local opposition.
A petition against the latest gaming centre plan was signed by more than 1,000 signatures in the summer of 2023 when the plans were first revealed, after Palmers Green Action Team warned that such gambling venues could lead to crime and disorder and put children at risk of “becoming normalised to gambling”.
The council sided with the local people raising these concerns and decided in July 2024 to refuse planning permission on the basis that it “would lead to a clustering, intensification and over-concentration of betting and gambling uses in the immediate area” which “would be detrimental to the vitality, viability and character of the town centre”.
Palace Amusements has since, however, submitted an appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, hoping to overturn the council’s decision.
The firm argues that adult gaming centres “contribute to the vitality and viability of other nearby commercial premises by a significant increase in footfall”.
In the appeal, under its company name East Kent Leasing Ltd, the firm states: “The submitted evidence demonstrates that the proposed development will not result in clustering, intensification and overconcentration of betting uses in the immediate area.
“Furthermore, the economic benefits of the proposed development should be taken into consideration. Along with creating job opportunities, the proposed development would bring a vacant unit in the Palmers Green district centre back into use. This is particularly relevant given that Palmers Green has recently seen an increase in the number of vacant units.”
Anyone wishing to make a representation as part of the appeal process must do so via the Planning Inspectorate before the deadline on Wednesday, 15th January.
A hearing as part of the appeal is due to take place on 25th February.
For more information and to make a representation:Visit https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?caseid=3356297
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