Policy E11
Gambling premises, pawnbrokers and payday loan shops
- To ensure that shopping areas remain diverse and balanced, and to help address concentrations of deprivation and crime, the council will seek to manage the concentration of gambling premises, pawnbrokers and payday loan shops. Any proposal for gambling premises, pawnbroker and payday loan shop will be considered against the provisions of Policies on Town and Local Centres (E7 – E9 ) and London Plan 'Agent of Change' policy principles.
- Planning permission for gambling premises may be granted within the Town and Local Centres, and it can be demonstrated that the proposal is not located within a Gambling Vulnerability Zones or a Cumulative Impact Area.
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Planning Permission for gambling premises, pawnbrokers and payday loan shops, may be granted where:
a) it will not impact adversely on the amenity, character and function of an area.
b) it will add to the vitality of the existing shopping parade or cluster; and
c) it will not result in negative cumulative impacts.
6.81 Food and drink uses, night clubs, live music and/or dance venues and other entertainment activities such as gambling can support the evening economy, but often need to be managed to avoid negative impacts.
Gambling premises
6.82 The Government introduced additional planning controls in relation to betting offices, removing them from Class D2 use to a 'sui generis' use. This means that betting shops have been taken out of the planning 'use' classes and will need to receive planning approval. This has enabled planning authorities to exercise stricter controls over these uses. In addition to the council's Local Plan policies, the London Plan 'Agent of Change' principles apply where a new venue or noise generating development is proposed near to an existing residential development, meaning that the onus will be on the new development to identify impacts, and put in place noise mitigating measures as part of a planning application.
6.83 Whilst there is trend towards gambling online and at home, nevertheless proposals continue to be received for new gambling premises or extensions to approved hours. Facilities for gambling, including betting shops and casinos require a license from the council to operate. This is separate from the planning regime.
Council's gambling policy
6.84 The council's Statement of Gambling Policy 2025- 2028 reflects the principles under the Gambling Act 2005, and sets out policy for dealing with applications and regulating gambling premises within the borough. To support this, the Local Plan policies have a role to play in identifying suitable locations, and in managing the impacts of premises used for gambling and betting through use of conditions when a planning application is approved. The policy aims to respond to changing gambling models, such as the growth in popularity in adult gaming centres, to signpost the London Plan Agent of Change policy principles to address impacts of the proposed use, and to help promote responsible operation of these premises where their location is otherwise acceptable. Evidence collected to support the council's Gambling Policy ( Gambling Policy Local Area Profile 2024 identifies local context:
- risk factors, deprivation and vulnerability;
- locations of all gambling venues within the borough; and
- analysis of crime and ASB hotspots as well as analysis of offences taking place in gambling premises.
6.85 Hammersmith and Fulham has a high concentration of betting shops, pawn brokers and payday loan shops per capita. The evidence also confirms that the over representation of such uses is especially high in the most deprived parts of the borough. It identifies a correlation between clustering, or cumulative impact, of gambling premises and that these areas have the highest levels of Crime and Antisocial behaviour (ASB) in the borough, and identifies 5 high risk areas known as "Gambling Vulnerability Zones". These areas are rated in the top 40% of a vulnerability index and are driven by a number of factors including deprivation, youth unemployment, household income and lone parent households, amongst others. The evidence also shows a clustering of gambling premises in the Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham (north end road) areas – these areas have been highlighted as three "Cumulative Impact Areas"
6.86 Within Gambling Vulnerability Zones and the three Cumulative Impact Areas, as a licencing authority the council's applies a policy presumption to refuse any new gambling applications for adult gaming centres (AGCs), betting shops or bingo premises, except in exceptional circumstances. In light of the evidence, and to support the council's objectives to support town centres and tackle deprivation and crime,
6.87 To ensure that shopping areas remain diverse and balanced, the council is seeking to limit the amount and concentration of premises used for gambling and betting, pawnbrokers, and payday loan shops in other areas of high concentration. This will also help the council address strategic and borough wide objectives in relation to health addressing deprivation, and regeneration.