Green light for late-night adult gaming centre with 12 new jobs
Plans for a late-night ‘adult gaming centre’ in Sunderland city centre have been given the green light.
Earlier this year, a planning application was lodged with Sunderland City Council to change the use of a business unit at 4-4A Holmeside.
The building was formerly used as a William Hill betting shop but has remained vacant for some time.
New plans from Cashino Gaming Ltd aimed to set up an adult arcade on the ground floor, operating under the Merkur Slots brand, offering low stakes slot machines, bingo machines and tablets.
According to a planning statement from the applicant, adult gaming centres do not offer fixed-term betting terminals normally associated with betting shops.
Instead, they aim to provide a place for people to “spend their spare change, have a game of bingo and enjoy their favourite pastime.”
Applicants also confirmed that adult gaming centres typically operate on a 24-hour basis and that similar hours were being proposed at Holmeside, Sunderland.
However, the opening hours were scaled back after Northumbria Police raised concerns during a council consultation.
A statement from the force’s ‘designing out crime officer’, submitted to council planners, set out the reasons behind the request.
It said: “In conclusion, with due regard to our crime risk assessment, the existing
proliferation of gambling opportunities and the likely policing, crime and disorder implications we would ask that the opening hours be conditioned to restrict operation to 8am till midnight.”
Objections from several city residents were also lodged, with one comment saying 24-hour opening hours would set a “dangerous precedent” if approved.
After considering representations, the council’s planning department granted the planning application with the reduced opening hours.
This includes 8am to midnight, seven days a week (including Bank Holidays), to help “safeguard the amenity of nearby occupiers.”
According to planning documents, the adult gaming centre is expected to create up to 12 jobs.
The applicant added the proposals would “protect and enhance the vitality and viability of this part of the city centre.”