Southwark Council is set to take action to limit the number of gambling premises in the Blue, following a motion passed at the Council Assembly meeting on 9 July 2025.
The motion, moved by Councillor Leo Pollak, calls for a restatement of the council's commitment to the Blue Lettings Strategy. The strategy aims to curate the high street and prioritise marketing and letting of commercial premises that bring pride to the area, are independent businesses, avoid duplication, introduce uses that meet the needs of different incomes and backgrounds in the community, drive footfall, generate local jobs and promote skills development opportunities, support progression for locally owned businesses, and avoid known public health risks.
To address concerns about the concentration of betting shops, the council is committed to using all available options to avoid renewing leases for existing betting shops within its property portfolio, particularly in deprived or over-saturated areas. The council is also planning to strengthen planning policy to combat over-concentration of gambling premises, through its forthcoming review of the Southwark Plan.
The motion also calls for the council to explore options for strengthening planning policy to combat over-concentration of gambling premises, through its forthcoming review of the Southwark Plan.
Additionally, the council will organise a meeting with local ward councillors, Blue Bermondsey BID and other stakeholders to support the strategy for improving the Blue, and long-term prospects for commercial property portfolio. To further understand the issue, the council will also commission independent field research with local health charities and research organisations, to better understand the spending profiles and psychological backgrounds of repeat customers of gambling shops at the Blue, and to publicise those findings on its website. This research aims to address the root causes of problem gambling in the area.
The Blue Lettings Strategy has seen major public realm improvements, market infrastructure upgrades, shopfront improvements, four new restaurants set up on the high street, new locally owned uses such Brotherhood of Games thriving and bringing footfall and vitality, the upcoming launch of the new B223 Multi-arts centre and community centre in the Thorowgoods building, and new affordable workspace supported to be established in the arches.