Royal Amusements Wants to Open a Gaming Venue in Sheffield’s Fargate

Royal Amusements wants to further expand and open new venues in the UK. The most recent expansion proposal is submitted to the Planning Development Control Sheffield City Council, where the company hopes its new venue will be placed. 

Expansion to Sheffield:

The proposition has been submitted via Planning Portal Dear Planning Officers.

The company already operates various venues across West Yorkshire. However, Royal Amusements hopes its new venue will be opened on the ground floor of 9 Fargate, located in the center of the city. Instead of a nail salon that previously occupied the space, the company wants to open its new gaming center.

Similarly to the other Royal Amusements venues, this one would contain various slot machines, bingo, and other popular games, which would surely draw many visitors to the Fargate. It would be beneficial to Fargate as well since the prime retail pitch isn’t at its most popular point among shoppers since the fire that occurred in 2021. The upper floors of the building are still unoccupied since the fire. 

Apart from causing footfall in Fargate after a long time, the new venue will provide at least 12 full-time jobs to the Sheffield residents.

Pros & cons:

Agents RR Planning commented on it on behalf of the Royal Amusements: “There are no physical changes proposed to the shopfront, and there will be no impact on the existing shopping frontage, and an active frontage will be maintained. There will be no impact on the amenity of any nearby occupiers. The proposed change of use will also contribute to the daytime and evening economy.”

However, not all members of the public agree with the proposal. One of them, a resident from Lydgate Lane, said: “With the regeneration of Fargate underway and the goal to turn it into a high-quality events and cultural space, this seems to fly smack in the face of that goal. We don’t need Fargate to become an extension of Haymarket. A building of this type would surely be better suited as a cafe or restaurant and be more in keeping with the goals for the area.”

However, this retail unit can be repurposed to allow Royal Amusements to open its gaming center without any consequence to the retail units on the upper floors where the tanning salon was located. Since the property is currently abandoned, there are no obstacles to further proceeding with the plan, and amusement centers can be placed in such areas.