MIPIM 2012: ‘Major interest’ in casino contest

ALL possibilities, including the potential construction of a new development, are being considered as the race continues to secure a licence to run one of only eight new large casinos in the country in Leeds.

Martin Farrington, director of strategic development at Leeds City Council, said there had been “major interest” in the bidding process for the licence.

The first phase of the bidding process is open and will close in late April. A second ‘benefits test’ stage of the application process will then take place with the licence expected to be granted in March 2013.

The new casino will have a minimum area of 1,000 sq m and up to 150 slot machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000.

Only eight councils across the country have been given permission to grant a licence for a larger than normal casino, of which one is in Leeds.

Mr Farrington told delegates at MIPIM, the major property and inward investment conference taking place this week in Cannes, France, that the council had “an open mind” about who to grant the licence to.

“What that means is that it could be a new build on a brownfield site, it could be a refurbished site or it could be an extension of an existing casino.

“It’s an open process,” he said. “There’s no preferred location or preferred operator. It’s for any relevant party to come forward and it could be located anywhere withing the Leeds metropolitan district boundary.”

He added: “Leeds stands out on the list of eight cities as the most attractive that is available in the UK at the moment.

“The strength of the Leeds offer is that it’s a UK leading leisure destination. By night the city really comes alive.”