Amusement centres, which include activities such as prize bingo centres, amusement with prize machines (e.g. fruit machines) and amusement only machines (pin tables and video games), are now found in many of the City’s shopping centres. National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing (NPPG8) encourages diversity of use and activity within centres to maintain vitality and viability. Paragraphs 79 to 82 of NPPG 8 set out various requirements with regard to the location and acceptability of these uses. This is reflected in the following policy.

An application for an amusement centre may also be required to satisfy other policies of the Plan, notably policy SC 8: Non-Retail Uses in Shopping Centres (Excluding the City Centre); Policy SC 13: Shopfront Alterations and Shop Security; and policy HER 3: Design Standards for Listed Buildings and Properties in Conservation Areas.

1. The Council will consider applications for amusement centres on their merits having regard to the provisions of policy SC 8: Non-Retail Uses in Shopping Centres (Excluding the City Centre) and other relevant considerations.

2. In shopping areas and in areas of mixed commercial uses, applications for amusement centres will be considered favourably, subject to an assessment of the impact in terms of noise and disturbance, and of the visual appearance of the property.

3. To ensure that unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance do not result, planning conditions may be imposed in relation to: