Opposition builds to Willesden Green Adult Gaming Centre

Oppositon is building to the new application to convert the Lloyd's Bank buidling at 1 Walm Lane, Willesden Green into an Adult Gaming Centre. See Wembley Matters story HERE.

Cllr Saqlain Choudry took to Next Door to urge local residents to object:

Willesden Green does not need another gambling establishment or betting premise. I strongly object to the proposed adult gaming centre (formerly Lloyds bank). Our community deserves investment in spaces that promote positive activities for all ages — not venues that could encourage addiction. Please make your voices heard and comment by emailing the planning department at Brent Council or commenting on the planning application portal. LINK

The letter asks the council Planning Department to reject the application rather than councillor members of the Planning Committee,

 

Another ward councillor writes;

 I strongly object to this proposal.

There would be five gambling premises in a short stretch of road - 2 Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, the new site, and the current adult gaming centre.

This is too much and the combined effect is hollowing out our High Street.

As a local Councillor I am profoundly concerned by this.

I am even more concerned that this application turns a bingo hall into an adult gaming centre. The lack of change to he floor plan shows that the initial application was made on a morally fraudulent basis, and insult to the integrity of the committee and its members.

Adult gaming centres replace social gambling with highly individualised and algorithmically driven forms of gambling, which seek to spur addiction and take advantage of vulnerable clients. It allows higher stakes than bingo, and because of the non-social nature increases the risk of localised antisocial behaviour, directly outside the site of two recent ASB related stabbings.

This application should not be looked upon kindly and should not be allowed to proceed. The committee should do everything in its legal powers to prevent its progress.

Many thanks to those who will consider this objection. I would encourage them to also take into account the volume of feeling against this from local residents.

 

In all so far there are  37 objections (one is wrongly classified as 'Supports'). This objection may strike a chord with many residents:

 I am writing as a local resident to strongly object to the proposed conversion of the former bank premises in Willesden Green into a casino or bingo hall. As a young woman living nearby, I am deeply concerned about the implications this type of venue will have on the safety, wellbeing, and character of our community.

Over the past few months, I have already noticed a troubling rise in antisocial behaviour in the area. There has been an observable increase in public drunkenness, drug use, and drug dealing in and around Willesden Green, including on my own street. This has made me-and many others-feel significantly less safe walking alone, particularly at night. I have experienced and witnessed incidents of sexual harassment in broad daylight, and these occurrences are becoming more frequent. The addition of a gambling venue with late-night operating hours will only exacerbate these issues.

Casinos and similar gambling establishments are well-documented in their association with increased rates of crime and antisocial behaviour. Numerous studies and case histories from other parts of the UK indicate that areas surrounding such venues often see spikes in petty crime, drug-related offences, loitering, and harassment. This type of environment poses a very real threat to residents, especially women and young people. I already avoid walking alone past certain areas in the evening-bringing in a venue that typically attracts intoxicated and vulnerable individuals late into the night will only make this worse.

Beyond safety, the proposed development raises major concerns about the character and future of Willesden Green. Our area is home to a vibrant and diverse community of families, small business owners, elderly residents, and working professionals. What Willesden Green needs are services and spaces that support this community: affordable housing, youth services, libraries, childcare, green spaces, and accessible cultural or educational venues. A gambling outlet offers none of this. Instead, it threatens to erode the fabric of our high street, attracting predatory business models and potentially displacing more beneficial local services.

Moreover, venues like casinos and bingo halls often prey on the most economically vulnerable in society. In a borough like Brent, where many residents are already living with financial precarity, allowing a gambling outlet to operate in the heart of Willesden Green sends entirely the wrong message. Rather than investing in social support and community enrichment, it risks fuelling addiction, debt, and mental health problems-all of which ultimately place further pressure on local services, healthcare, and policing.

This proposal also runs counter to the council's stated commitments to equality, public health, and inclusive neighbourhood development. If Brent is serious about building safe, resilient, and inclusive communities, this application should be firmly rejected.

Finally, there is the issue of planning precedent. There is already a similar establishment a few doors away from the proposed new development, as well as numerous similar gambling businesses in Cricklewood. The presence of yet another gambling venue in such a small geographical area may dissuade other, more community-oriented businesses from investing in the area. It could also have a negative impact on nearby property values and the perception of Willesden Green as a welcoming and safe neighbourhood.

In summary, I strongly urge you to reject this application on the following grounds:

- **Increased crime and antisocial behaviour** associated with gambling venues;

- **Public safety concerns**, particularly for women and vulnerable residents;

- **Recent local rise in harassment, drug use, and intoxication** that such a venue will likely worsen;

- **Negative impact on the area's social and economic fabric**, including risks to mental health, wellbeing, and community cohesion;

- **Contradiction of Brent Council's wider social and urban development goals**.

Please act to protect the wellbeing of residents and preserve the integrity of our neighbourhood by rejecting this proposal.

 

Note that if you submit  a comment by email only your address and whether you Object or Support appears on the Planning Portal. If you submit via the portal HERE your full comment appears so enabling other residents to read it.

 

 

Applicant who was granted permission for Bingo Hall at Lloyds Bank site in Willesden Green comes back with an application to make it an Adult Gaming Centre

Brent Planning Committee granted permission for a Bingo Hall at 1 Walm Lane, Willesden Green, previously Lloyds Bank, earlier this year. Some commentators suggested that the innocent title of 'Bingo Hall' hid an intention to make it an adult gaming centre.

 

They were right. Building on that success Barry Cunningham, of Star Commercial Ltd, has submitted an application for an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) on that site:

The Proposal:

To use the ground floor as an AGC with ancillary facilities in the basement. To retain the street elevation as existing, forming a window display area in place of the ATMs and to install signage as permitted by Class 5 of the Advertisement Regulations. To make internal alterations not being development as defined by S 55 of the principle Act.

 

The proposed opening hours are 8am to 12.30am Monday to Friday,  Saturday 9am-1am and Sunday 9.30am-12.30am.

 

Building work would begin in September this year with comppletion in ugust 2026.

 

There is little public  information available about Star Commercial Ltd. 

 

The ground floor plans for the current AGC and previous Bingo Hall (below) are like one of those 'Spot the Difference' competitions they used to have in children's comics. It makes you wonder about the original intention.

 

 Proposed layout of the Adult Gaming Centre

 Proposed layout of the Bingo Hall

 

Comments on the Application, in support or opposed, can be made on the Brent Planning Portal HERE.

Harlesden and Kensal Green councillors pledge to campaign for a change in the law after approval of Adult Gaming Centre

 Harlesden and Kensal Green Labour councillors have posted a Facebook comment on the approval of another Adult Gaming Centre by Brent Planning Committee.

We continue to stand up for the residents of #Harlesden and #KensalGreen who are fed up with our neighbourhood being targeted by gambling companies. This week Cllr Chan spoke at the Planning Committee in opposition to the application from Silvertime for a new high street casino on Park Parade, and Cllr Kelcher spoke at Licensing Committee in opposition to the application from Merkur for a new bingo site on the High Street. Unfortunately, the law as it currently operates severely limits the ability of Councils to block these facilities, which is why we’re campaign at a national level.

A little local history...

Plans for a Las Vegas style £320m casino and hotel complex for Wembley Park was put forward by Quintain and Caesars Entertainment back in 2004.  Quintain were not happy when it was turned down:

24 August 2006

Developer Quintain is forced to put forward alternative plan following Brent council's decision

The London Borough of Brent has withdrawn its support for a regional casino in the area meaning developer Quintain will have to progress with alternative plans on the proposed site.

Quintain’s joint venture with Caesar’s Entertainment has now lapsed as the developer will need to come up with an alternative plan for the site which is capable of accommodation up to 203,000 sq m of development.

Nick Shattock, Quintain’s deputy chief executive said: “We are not surprised by this turn of events. Of course, we were aware that both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives campaigned on an electoral ticket to stop the regional casino coming to Brent. Obviously, when they formed a joint administration in July, excluding the Labour party members, who had made the application, there was an increasing air on inevitability of this course of action.”

 

 April 2012 

QUINTAIN Estates and Development is confident of winning Government approval to build a new super-casino at Wembley.

Nick Shattock, Quintain's property director, said he was 'OKî with the Government's latest backtracking on the number of large casinos it would allow nationwide, down to eight at the last count.

He said: 'If it is eight there is just a bigger prize to be chased.’

Quintain unveiled plans in October to build a £335 million gambling and leisure resort on land it owns near the new Wembley stadium in a joint venture with Las Vegas casino owner Caesars Entertainment.

The developer would split the cost with Las Vegas casino owner, Caesars Entertainment in a joint venture to transform a 650,000-square-foot site on the land around the stadium owned by Quintain.

The plans for the complex include a 400 room hotel, a casino to house 110 gaming tables and 1,250 slot machines, numerous restaurants, shops and a performance area.

Battle over another Adult Gaming Centre in Harlesden at Planning Committee tonight

 

The premises

The latest chaper in the battle over an additional Adult Gaming  Centre (AGC) in Harlesden takes place at Planning Committee tonight after a number of applications and Planning Inspectorate appeals.

It pits ward councillors and 19 objectors who oppose the application against the recommendation to approve it made by planning officers.

The Harlesden and Kensal Green ward councillors are Mili Patel, who is deputy leader of Brent Council; Matt Kelcher, who is chair of Brent Planning Committee, and Jumbo Chan.

Clearly officers are seeking to avoid yet another appeal by the applicant to the Planning Inspectorate and rely on some changes in the application and its context to recommend approval.

The narrowest one is the proportion of AGC shop fronts in the area which has been reduced by one such shop front coverting to retail.  The quota is 3% and with this application at 5-6 Park Parade comes in at 2.74%.

 The Officers Report states:

In summary, the proposed change of use would not result in an unacceptable over-concentration of Adult Gaming Centres as defined within the Council’s adopted policies, it therefore would not harm the vitality and viability of Harlesden Town Centre. The proposed development is in accordance with to DMP 1 and BE5 of the Brent Local Plan 2019-2041. The principle of development is in accordance with the Council’s policies and the London Plan and therefore is considered acceptable.

 The proposal is now for one Adult Gaming Centre unit in the double fronted shop rather than an AGC plus betting shop as previously. 

The concern over the impact on crime and anti-social behaviourof another AGC preying on a vulnerable population is undermined by the Planning Inspector's findings:

Comments were received raising concern that the use would result in crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour, noting the Police objected to a previous applications. Previous comments from the Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team suggested that adult gaming centres were driver for anti-social behaviour, maps were previously provided showing the location a concentration of anti-social behaviour, violence and drug offences. The comments noted a concentration around the Jubilee Clock and Silvertime gaming centre. The Safer Neighbourhood Teams raised similar concerns with the Appeal Scheme (Appeal Ref:

APP/T5150/W/21/3269557) , a list of offences were submitted and the Inspector was furnished with this.

The Inspector did not support the Local Planning Authorities view in terms of crime, anti-social behaviour and disorder, at paragraph 16 of the Appeal Decision (Appeal Ref: APP/T5150/W/21/3269557) they stated

‘The Council have detailed concerns relating to crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour including comments from local residents and bodies, the Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team and the Metropolitan Police. The Harlesden area is identified as an area of high deprivation with unemployment and homelessness levels generally high. There is no unequivocal link presented to me between these matters and the proposal which would result in a single AGC leading to a harmful effect on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area.'

 Planning Officers' conclude:

The principle of development is acceptable and would not result in an over concentration of AGCs within Harlesden Town Centre as defined within the council's planning policies or result in harm to the vitality and viability of the town centre. The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in terms of impact to character and appearance of the subject property and the wider streetscene and the development would preserve the character of the Harlesden Conservation Area. The proposed development is not considered to have an adverse impact on the amenities of neighbouring properties.

 

Subject to conditions, the proposed use would be acceptable and not result in harm to the locality and neighbouring occupiers. The proposal is considered to be in general accordance with the development plan having regard to material considerations.

Approval is accordingly recommended.

 

 The full Officers' Report is HERE

The meeting is in the Conference Hall of Brent Civic Centre at 6pm tonight. It is also live streamed HERE.

Brent Planning Officers recommend approval of Harlesden Adult Gaming Centre despite opposition from police and local councillors

 

Tonight's Planning Committee is full of controversial planning applications with Mumbai Junction and Kilburn Square returning to the Agenda (there is a Supplementary Report on Kilburn Square HERE) and are expected to have speakers making the case for refusal of planning permission.

You can watch the meeting live online HERE

Also returning to the Agenda is an application to turn two neglected shops on Park Parade, Harlesden into an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) and reduced size betting shop.  Objectors cite anti-social behaviour and the presence of other AGC's in the area as reasons for objection. There is the additional moral and public health case against the exploitative nature of gambling joints in poor areas.

The application is unusual in that it is being opposed by local councillors, community organisations and the police:

60 objections were received in total inclusive of objections from Councillors, Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Harlesden Area Action Group, the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Salvation Army.

 

The following Councillors objected:

 

Cllr Mili Patel –Harlesden and Kensal Green Ward

Cllr Jumbo Chan – Harlesden and Kensal Green Ward

Cllr Jake Rubin – Roundwood Ward

Cllr Elliot Chappell – Roundwood Ward

Cllr Fleur Donnelly – Jackson – Roundwood Ward

The Police objections are raised in a Supplementary Report that you can read HERE and I post an extract below:

An objection was received from the Met Police Designing Out Crime Officer, noting the following matters:

 

· That the close proximity of the public house (opposite) and off-licences either side and the nearby pawn shop can create a nurturing habitat for street drinking which in turn can increase the risk of antisocial behaviour (ASB);

· That the alleyway to the rear is not well observed and has poor natural surveillance;

· That the main entrance is recessed and provide a concealment opportunity and could be used as a toilet or to take drugs;

· That there is no mention of security in the proposal or a management plan;

· That the proposal indicates that the AGC won’t be staffed and could therefore be exploited by drug dealers or users. They consider that persons should be vetted prior to entry to ensure they are of suitable age and have not been barred;

· That the windows onto the street need to allow for surveillance into and out from the centre.

 

They also highlight that the local policing team raised the following concerns:

 

· That Park Parade has the second highest figures for recorded ASB in the town centre and is a known area where robbery often occurs, and for drug offences (both possession and supply);

· That there are organised gangs of drug dealers in Park Parade taking over and using premises to conduct their activities, and that an unsupervised venue will allow this to happen out of police view;

· That last year, an operation was conducted in the High Street where a betting shop was used by a 20 strong gang to drug deal out of sight;

· That there is a nearby college and school and that their pupils frequent Park Parade on their way to and from the education facility and could be influenced by the venue and its cliental;

· That there is a nightclub and public house opposite;

· That the town centre already has a street drinking problem contributing to ASB , and that the betting shop venues attract street drinkers;

· That there have been 6 Closure Orders in Park Parade relating to premises causing ASB or allowing criminality.

 

The Met Police advise that they have a number of recommendations should the application be granted, including:

· Security rated entrance doors;

· Video and auto intercom at entrance to ensure potential guests are vetted prior to entry;

· Glazing to main façade meets BSEN standards, with a roller shutter fixed to the exterior;

· That the recessed entrances are removed or have shutters or grills to eliminate this overnight;

· That the rear escape doors are alarmed and that they have a sufficient security rating;

· That the walls and doors of any cash room are security rated;

· That any external mailbox meets specific certification levels;

· That CCTV (with complementary lighting) is provided to specific standards and maintained by certified companies;

· That intruder alarms are installed

· That the applicant liaises with the MPS North West Licensing team.

 

Officers' comment:

The matters raised by the Met Police are acknowledged.

You might think the evidence supplied by the police is pretty daming but nevertheless planning officers recommend approval:

Recommendation: That planning permission is granted subject to the conditions set out in the report  and an additional condition requiring formal Secured by Design accreditation prior to first occupation of the units.

 

The premises shall not be used expect between the hours of 0800 hours and 2230 hours Sundays to Thursdays and between 0800 hours and 2300 hours Friday and Saturdays without the written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: To ensure that the proposed development does not prejudice the enjoyment by neighbouring occupiers of their properties.’

Harlesden celebrates after defeating planning application for another Adult Gaming Centre in the town

 

5-6 Park Parade, Harlesden, NW10

A combination of local residents and organisations were claiming success today after Brent Council turned down a planning application for conversion of  currently empty premises at 5-6 Park Parade, Harlesden, into a betting shop AND adult gaming centre.

78 objections were received in total inclusive of objections from Councillors, Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Harlesden Area Action Group, the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Salvation Army. 

 

Wembley Matters wrote about the planning application in May:  Gambling Harlesden's Future.

 

A closely argued officers' report refers back to  the Planning Inspectorate's report on an earlier appeal. It is worth looking at the officer's  Final Delegated Report for the detailed arguments on planning issues as the applicant may well appeal again. 

 

The grounds for refusal of the application are summarised as:

 

The proposed change of use would result in an unacceptable over-concentration of Adult Gaming Centres, it would harm the vitality and viability of Harlesden Town Centre. The proposed development is contrary to DMP 1 and BE5 of the Brent Local Plan 2019-2041.The proposed development fails to accord with the development plan and there are no site specific circumstances or material consideration to justify diverting from the policy in this instance.