Plans unveiled to open new BoyleSports betting shop in Sunderland
Plans have been submitted for a new betting shop in the Southwick area of Sunderland.
The city council’s planning department has received an application for two commercial units at The Green in Southwick.
The units are described in planning documents as “unoccupied” and were formerly occupied by a butcher and a food retailer.
New plans from BoyleSports (UK) aim to transform the units into a betting office creating three full-time and three part-time jobs.
A planning statement submitted to the council said a new betting office in Southwick represented “significant investment in the fitting out of the new unit” and would “create additional employment in the local area”.
It was argued that the proposed betting office use would “improve the viability and vitality of Southwick Green district centre”, bring vacant units back into “beneficial long term use” and “generate additional footfall and spending”.
The planning statement adds: “The applicant has thorough measures in place to assist in the prevention of anti-social behaviour and crime, including a range of security measures that are implemented as standard.
“The proposal is for an appropriate town centre use that would contribute to the viability and vitality of the centre.
“By occupying the units, the footfall within the district centre would increase, subsequently improving upon the levels of natural surveillance during both day and nighttime and in turn positively impacting on the perception of safety and crime.”
A decision on the application is expected following a consultation.