Planning row on the cards over Leicester Square casino redevelopment
Soho Estates’ plans for a new, larger casino in one of its Leicester Square properties have run into opposition – from the operator of an existing casino at the site.
The landlord has applied to Westminster City Council to use the basement and ground floors of 1 Leicester Place, WC2, as a mix of casino and retail or restaurant premises. The application will be heard by the planning committee next week and is recommended for approval.
The building, also known as Queen’s House, currently has a casino in the basement and, until recently, a restaurant on the ground floor. The latter space is now used for temporary retail kiosks. A hotel and nightclub are on the upper floors.
Soho Estates’ plans for a new, larger casino in one of its Leicester Square properties have run into opposition – from the operator of an existing casino at the site.
The landlord has applied to Westminster City Council to use the basement and ground floors of 1 Leicester Place, WC2, as a mix of casino and retail or restaurant premises. The application will be heard by the planning committee next week and is recommended for approval.
The building, also known as Queen’s House, currently has a casino in the basement and, until recently, a restaurant on the ground floor. The latter space is now used for temporary retail kiosks. A hotel and nightclub are on the upper floors.
However, the scheme has received a raft of objections around the possible loss of Horizons Casino, which has operated the existing casino for more than three decades. Those objections have come from Horizon itself, the Leicester Square Association, London Chinatown Chinese Association, UK Chinese Sports Federation, Chinese Community Centre and 20 members of the public.
Summarising some of the objections, the council’s planning officer said: “The existing casino has close links with the Chinese community and is considered a cultural venue within the area, a link which cannot be replicated by larger casinos.”
They added: “Horizons is a smaller, more intimate casino which caters to a mature and local clientele compared with the larger casinos in the area which target a more tourist customer base. Therefore, it would result in the loss of a venue well used by the local community while it would also be harmful to the variety of casino offerings.”
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