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How to lodge a representation

Southwark Council uses your personal data when logging a representation made against an application for a licence. The Licensing Act 2003 requires us to do this. We do not require your permission to process your data and failure to provide it may result in us being unable to process your representation. 

Your personal information will only be used by the licensing team and will be destroyed after 6 years.

If you're concerned about how the council is using your data, contact our Data Protection Officer or 020 7525 5000. 

More information about your rights is available on our website, or via the Information Commissioner.

Anyone can comment or object to an application to the following types of licences:

You can view a list of the current licence applications on the license register.

Criteria for making an objection

For applications under the Licensing Act 2003, your representation must be based on one of the four licensing objectives, under the Act:

  • prevention of crime and disorder
  • prevention of public nuisance
  • public safety
  • protection of children from harm

For applications under the Gambling Act 2005, you must:

  • live sufficiently close to the premises to be likely to be affected by the authorised activities
  • have business interests that might be affected by the authorised activities, or represent persons who satisfy these conditions to be able to object

Objections to gambling premises applications must relate to one or more of the following licensing objectives:

  • preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
  • ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
  • protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

For applications for Special Treatments Licenses and new approved premises for marriages and civil partnerships, there are no set objectives. However, the grounds for the objection must be relevant to the application and reasons for the objection must be given.

Objectors don't have to live or have a business in the Borough of Southwark.

When to object to a licence application

Representations should be made by the given closing date. Closing dates for current applications can be seen on the current applications page on the license register.

Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address or email licensing@southwark.gov.uk and be received by the service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date on the notice.

How to object to a licence application

If you wish to object to an application for a licence, you must put your objection in writing to Licensing Service or email us before the closing date for objections. You must include the following:

  • your full name, address and email (a signature is only required if you're writing to us, also include your email on the letter)
  • the date you wrote the letter or email
  • the application that you're opposed to
  • the reasons why you're opposed to the application

Please ensure correspondence and documents submitted are in font Arial with a font size of 12.

For more information, read our guide to licensing representations. (PDF, 262kb)

If representations are being made on behalf of a group (eg Tenants and Residents Association) then proof of the group's decision to make the objection must be sent to the Licensing Service along with the objection letter (this could be a document such as minutes from a meeting).

If a petition is submitted, the organiser must:

  • provide their own contact details
  • state clearly the application that is being opposed and the reason for opposition on each page of the petition
  • ensure all names and addresses are clearly legible and preferably written in black ink
  • show the date the signatures are collected on each page
  • representation and petition information

Representations will not be accepted if they are libellous, slanderous, racist or of unacceptable nature. Objections relating to impact of new businesses on existing trade can not be taken into account.

Page last updated: 12 July 2024

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