News: Parliament Rejects Changes to Planning Law to Limit Betting Shops
- Date: 31/05/2011
- Author/Solicitor: Nick Arron
A proposed amendment to the new Localism Bill has been rejected by Parliament. The amendment, suggested by Labour MP David Lammy, would have extended the power of Local Authority's to control planning in relation to betting shops. The amendments were designed to prevent the perceived over proliferation of bookmakers in certain areas.
The proposal would have placed betting shops in the sui generis planning class, like casinos and amusement arcades. It would have prevented bookmakers from opening in former estate agents, offices and banks without further planning consent. Bookmakers are currently categorised as planning use A2 and able to move into any other A2 premises which include estate agents, offices and banks. The changes to the licensing of gambling premises, under the Gambling Act 2005, also removed the need for betting shops to prove unmet demand, which had gone some way to limiting the number of betting shops, or to have planning permission prior to licensing which many Magistrates Courts insisted upon.
The perceived clustering of bookmakers has been noted in relation to a number of areas, particularly around North London, Haringey, Lewisham, Dartford and Luton although there was little evidence of any significant increase in actual numbers. The DCMS have themselves stated that they are not aware of any data which demonstrates the concentration of betting shops is a wide spread problem requiring amendments to legislation, or that current powers available to Local Authorities are insufficient to address legitimate concerns.
For more information please contact Nick Arron or Nick Landells
