New video gaming centre could open until 11pm daily if plans approved

The video gaming centre could replace a betting shop

A new video gaming centre could stay open until 11pm every day if plans are approved. Johnson Falaiye has submitted plans to Peterborough City Council to change the former Ladbrokes in Midgate, Peterborough into a new gaming centre.

If approved, the centre is proposed to be open for 13 hours a day from 10am until 11pm daily. The applicant said: “The proposed business would operate as an indoor leisure use, focused on video gaming and simulation-style gaming.

“The use would not involve betting, gambling, casino activity, prize gaming or adult gaming machines. The premises would be managed and supervised by staff during opening hours.”

The centre could be named Racecraft Sim, and the applicant plans to display the centre’s signage with a “halo illuminated appearance”.

The premises is situated in Peterborough city centre. Mr Falaiye said a new video games centre would “make productive use of an existing commercial unit and would maintain an active frontage on Midgate”.

It would also “avoid vacancy, support economic activity and provide a supervised indoor recreational use in a sustainable city centre location”. The applicant doesn’t feel the plans will cause any “unacceptable harm” to neighbours.

The 11pm closing time is a “principal amenity consideration”. However it’s considered “reasonable in a city centre location”.

The proposals are also not thought to result in harm to public safety or highway safety. The change of use for the building doesn’t require any changes to a public highway.

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