Residents Call Staines Bingo Hall Plan ‘Nail in the Coffin’ for High Street

_{Locals fear gambling expansion as developer defends bingo hall plan for former NatWest bank in Staines town centre.(Image: Google)}

Sunni-Ed Ltd has submitted a full planning application to Spelthorne Borough Council to convert the vacant ground floor of 67 High Street, Staines, into a bingo hall.

The building, once home to a NatWest branch, has long stood empty at street level. Its first floor remains in use as banking offices, with residential accommodation above. The property sits on the pedestrianised section of the High Street, close to the Elmsleigh shopping centre, surrounded by cafes, banks, shops and the town’s street market.

Sunni-Ed Ltd argues the proposal complies with national planning policy. The company points out that the 2009 Spelthorne Local Plan is outdated, while the new draft Local Plan is still under examination. The 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) advises that applications should generally be approved where policies are out of date unless there are clear reasons for refusal.

The developer also highlights that bingo halls are classed as “main town centre uses” under the NPPF, alongside retail, leisure and entertainment. 

Unlike the former bank, which was closed at weekends, a bingo hall would trade seven days a week and “support surrounding businesses by increasing footfall.”

Locals Push Back Against ‘Nail in the Coffin’

Residents say the plan risks accelerating decline rather than reversing it.

“This is the last establishment we need in Staines,” one resident said. Another added: 

“What we do need are more nice shops. We have an overdose of restaurants, barbers and nail salons. The town is really going downhill, a bingo hall is the last straw.”

Many want the site repurposed for community use, such as a post office, cultural centre or family-friendly café. Several noted that the listed building should be preserved in a way that enhances the high street rather than shifting it toward gambling.

Gambling, Licensing and Safety Concerns

Opponents also worry that a bingo hall could open the door to further gambling.

“It looks harmless on the surface, but I’m worried this is just the start,” one objector said. 

“It happened in Ashford, bingo turned into a gaming centre with slot machines. Gambling addiction ruins lives, and Staines shouldn’t allow it to take root.”

Sunni-Ed Ltd addresses those concerns in its planning statement. The company notes that issues such as safeguarding, licensing and crime prevention are governed by the Gambling Act 2005, not planning rules. Any bingo hall would need a licence, risk assessment, on-site supervision and strict age restrictions.

The developer also pledged noise insulation if the upper floors are converted to sensitive residential use and pointed to surveys showing bingo halls rarely generate late-night disruption.

What’s Next for the Bingo Hall Plans?

The application, submitted on 28 August 2025, will be open for public comment until 7 October 2025.

Spelthorne councillor Howard Williams (Independent Spelthorne Group) has said he will call in the application for a full planning committee review if officers recommend approval. A decision is expected later this year.

The public can comment on the plans until 7 October 2025.