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Allowed7 May 20253355393

170 High Street, Southend, SS1 1JX

Planning appeal 3355393 at 170 High Street, Southend, SS1 1JX (Southend-on-Sea City Council) was allowed on 7 May 2025 by Inspector Smith J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the vitality and viability of the City Centre.

‘change of use of 170 High Street, Southend from a vacant Class E unit to an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) (Sui Generis) (SG) use to allow Merkur Slots Ltd (UK) to occupy the unit’

Authority
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector
Smith J
Postcode
SS1 1JX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposed development on the vitality and viability of the City Centre

What decided it

The unit's prolonged vacancy and unsuccessful marketing, combined with the proposed window display design and potential for linked trips with nearby leisure uses, meant that introducing an adult gaming centre would contribute positively to the vitality of the City Centre without harmful effect.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy PA1Policy DS1Policy CP4Policy KP2Policy DM1Policy DM3
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 90

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Southend-on-Sea City Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Dismissed2 October 20266009119
    456 Southchurch Rd, Southend, SS1 2QA
  2. Allowed16 September 20266012017
    290 Prince Avenue, Westcliff-on-sea Essex, SS0 0NF
  3. Dismissed20 July 20266005510
    101 Shaftesbury Ave, Southend on Sea, SS1 3AN
  4. Dismissed2 June 20266005104
    44a Gravel Road, Eastwood, SS9 5AS
  5. Dismissed11 February 20263375137
    456 Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2QA

The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.