Coral betting shop to relocate to Dunfermline High Street

It had been thought that Ladbrokes - who are part of the same group - were ready to take a punt on an empty unit as, earlier this month, Ladbrokes Betting and Gaming Ltd submitted an application for advertising signs for the premises.

They have now followed that up with a request to Fife Council to change the use of 85A High Street from vacant shop to betting office, but it'll be for their stablemates. 

The Coral betting shop on Queen Anne Street will be relocating to High Street. (Image: Google Maps)

Elias Topping, planning agents for Ladbrokes, explained: "The proposal seeks to facilitate the relocation of the existing Coral betting office at 43 Queen Anne Street to a site which is closer to the retail core and which is better able to provide the standard of facilities and fit out demanded by today’s customers and employees.

"Should permission be granted to enable betting office use at the subject unit, Coral would relocate and transfer the associated gaming licence to the new property.

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"The proposal would not therefore lead to a net increase in betting offices in the city centre."

Part of the former Poundworld store could become a betting shop. (Image: Newsquest)

85A High Street was previously part of a much larger store, the former Poundworld, but after it closed the premises was sub-divided with Dears Pharmacy moving into the neighbouring unit.

Letting agents, HSA Retail, confirmed that the shop has been empty since January 2022.

If approved, the premises would be converted into a "high quality fully digitised betting office" with the same operating hours – 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday – as the current Coral Racing shop.

It's not yet known what would happen with the Queen Anne Street premises when Coral move. 

The new betting shop would be directly across the road from the premises of rival firm Betfred, who are at 78-80 High Street.

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The agents said: "Whilst the only other betting office is located opposite the subject unit, the number of betting uses overall will remain unchanged and the total number of this type of use, expressed as a percentage of the entire retail core, remains at 1.65 per cent, a figure which cannot be considered to be excessive or dominant."

As part of the application, Ladbrokes undertook a survey in the city centre in May and found that, out of 121 retail units, 27 were vacant.

Their planning agents added: "The retail function of the city centre, which continues to function relatively well with over 64 per cent of units falling into class 1A (shops and financial, professional and other services), will therefore be protected with no detrimental impact as a result of the proposed change of use."