The Nat West building has been vacant for over 8 months since it closed in October 2012
It looks like it is going to stay closed for some time as there are substantial repairs needed before these premises will be put on the market .This area does have a lower footfall than other Norwood Road locations closer to West Norwood and Tulse Hill rail stations and this again makes businesses less interested in leasing the ground floor at 270 Norwood Road.
There was a rumour that a betting shop was looking to lease the premises but there is no indication this is actually happening. Of course a betting shop would not need planning permission to go in to the Nat West building – as both banks and betting shops are in the same planning use class (A2). However any new betting shop would have to consult local people in order to get a gambling licence from the council.
Cllr Jackie Meldrum at 270 Norwood Road
Lambeth council would like to have more discretion to stop the plethora of betting shops in our high streets. Unfortunately the government recently rejected the argument that betting shops should have their own planning class as put forward by David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham. He has been campaigning for a change in the law as this would give councils much more control in their local area. The government’s new laws, which will apply for two years, allow businesses such as betting shops and money shops to open up in high street locations without the need for a public consultation. The Minister for Planning, Nick Boles MP, has dismissed residents’ concerns that this will drain the life from our high streets. Anyone feeling strongly about this could contact the Minister at nick.boles@communities.gsi.gov.uk
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