Somerset Council Rejects 24-Hour Gaming Centre Plan in Bridgwater Town Centre
Harper Brooks · Aug 25, 2026
Somerset Council Rejects 24-Hour Gaming Centre Plan in Bridgwater Town Centre
Somerset Council’s planning committee turned down an application from Godden Gaming Organisation that sought to turn a disused former WH Smith premises into a 24-hour adult gaming centre complete with slot machines, and the decision rested on worries that the facility could worsen anti-social behaviour in the Bridgwater area. The proposal had already cleared one hurdle when the licensing team granted a gambling licence in November 2025, while Avon and Somerset Police raised no objections to the scheme. Despite those clearances the planning refusal now stands, leaving plans for as many as nine new jobs on hold.
Details of the Proposed Development
The application centred on a vacant retail unit that once housed a branch of WH Smith in Bridgwater town centre, and the operator intended to fit the space with gaming machines while operating around the clock every day of the week. Godden Gaming Organisation submitted the plans in the hope of creating a permanent adult gaming venue that would occupy the empty shopfront and bring new activity to the high street. Committee members reviewed the submission alongside supporting documents that outlined the layout, opening hours and expected staffing levels.
Licensing Approval and Police Position
Earlier in the process the council’s licensing team examined the same project and issued a gambling licence in November 2025, confirming that the operator had satisfied the necessary regulatory checks for running gaming machines at the site. Avon and Somerset Police reviewed the application separately and lodged no formal objections, leaving the planning committee as the final decision-making body on land-use grounds. Those earlier approvals highlighted a split in the regulatory pathway, where licensing and policing considerations cleared the proposal even as planning concerns ultimately blocked it.
Planning Committee Decision and Stated Concerns
During the committee meeting councillors focused on the potential impact the 24-hour operation could have on existing levels of anti-social behaviour in the immediate vicinity of teh town centre location. The refusal notice cited those concerns as the primary reason for rejecting the change-of-use request, even though no new evidence of increased incidents had been presented during the hearing itself. Observers at the meeting noted that the discussion centred on how an all-night gaming facility might attract additional footfall during quieter hours and whether that activity could place extra demands on local policing and community safety resources.
Employment and Economic Context
The rejected scheme had projected the creation of up to nine full-time and part-time positions once the centre opened, covering roles such as machine attendants, security staff and customer service personnel. Those jobs would have filled positions at a site that has stood empty since the previous retail tenant departed, and local economic development officers had previously highlighted the value of re-occupying vacant town-centre units. With the planning permission now refused the operator must decide whether to revise the application, appeal the decision or explore alternative locations within the district.
Regulatory Background on Adult Gaming Centres
Adult gaming centres in England operate under a framework set out by the Gambling Act 2005 and subsequent licensing conditions, which separate the grant of a premises licence from planning permission for change of use. In this instance the licensing route cleared the proposal while the planning route did not, illustrating how the two processes can reach different conclusions on the same physical site. Council officers explained during the meeting that planning decisions must also take account of local development plan policies on town-centre vitality and public safety, factors that carried weight in the final vote.
Next Steps for the Site and Operator
Godden Gaming Organisation now faces the choice of submitting a revised scheme that addresses the committee’s concerns, lodging an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate or withdrawing the project altogether. The vacant unit remains on the market for other potential occupiers while the council continues its broader work on reducing anti-social behaviour through existing enforcement and community programmes. No immediate timetable has been announced for any follow-up application, and the nine planned positions stay on hold pending a final resolution.
Conclusion
The planning committee’s refusal closes the current chapter for the Bridgwater gaming centre proposal, leaving the former WH Smith unit unoccupied and the promised jobs unrealised for the time being. The case underscores the distinct roles played by licensing and planning functions within the same local authority, each applying its own criteria to the same set of facts. Further developments will depend on whether the operator chooses to revisit the scheme or pursue other options in the area.