Thetford's former HSBC bank to become adult gaming centre after Breckland Council planning approval

A controversial application to turn a former bank in Thetford into an adult gaming centre (AGC) has been approved unanimously by Breckland Council’s planning committee.

The proposal by Chongie Entertainment Ltd, originally put forward in February for the vacant HSBC building at 36 King Street, will also include a regional training centre for the firm.

More than 500 residents signed a petition in objection to the plans and case officer Naomi Minot said the application had also received 39 letters of objections.

But the officer said in her report at Tuesday's meeting that the application was acceptable in regards to council planning policies, compliant with the objectives of the Breckland Local Plan and was using a building closed since December 2020.

The point was also made that it would be adding jobs - possibly six full-time and two-part-time - as well as adding to the evening economy of the town.

With objections to anti-social behaviour, as the site was set to be 24-hours, the applicant had now reduced operational hours to between 7am and 2am.

Alexandra Webster, the developer’s agent, added: "In respects to concerns about anti-social behaviour, the applicant, whilst a relatively new company, comprises of experienced UK-based professionals with significant experience in the AGC industry and their existing stores are stringently and responsibly run.

"The application complies with national and local policies. The vacant HSBC bank provides no benefits to Thetford town centre, it is a dead frontage and currently detracts from King Street."

Mayor of Thetford Town, councillor Jane James, said she understood the emotional and planning responses and that the developer had given mitigations to those by restricting the opening times to come in line with the night time economy the town was trying to grow.

She said: "Whilst it is with a heavy heart I note residents' emotional views to this, I completely pragmatically understand that this is a planning matter and that given the mitigations that have been offered by the applicant it is a welcome use of an empty space that actually deters more from our town centre than if it was open."

The committee concluded that the objections by residents were of a social level and not on a planning level so voted unanimously in favour of the application.