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Developer’s bad luck as plan for casino is ditched
Katie Davies
PLANS for a casino as part of the £2billion regeneration of King's Cross have folded before developers even had a chance to lay their cards on the table.
Camden Council has just taken over the responsibility of giving out gambling licences. And a spokesman says the borough already has a full house and won't allow any more casinos to open despite giving planning permission for one in King's Cross in March last year.
A council spokeswoman said: "The units concerned in King's Cross have planning permission for a casino. However, under new government legislation, they now have to apply to the council for a gaming licence rather than the courts.
"We will not grant any of those licences. We have a 'no more casinos' resolution and that applies to King's Cross as well."
The new laws mean the council can decide whether to stick or twist on the number of bingo halls, casinos and betting shops in Camden.
Councillors will also decide if premises can have one-armed bandits and whether small society lotteries should be allowed.
The backtrack is likely to leave developer Argent with a weaker hand as the company will have to find another way of attracting businesses to its £2billion revamp of the area around the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
At the planning meeting last year, chief executive Roger Madelin said: "I have never been in a casino and I have no ambition to go in one but other cities and other places have them and for some reason people find it somewhere they like to go.
"I don't see why and you wouldn't find me in there. We don't want one but we need one to make it a proper international development."
Not only will there be no casino in King's Cross but the current nightclubs are also being moved out as part of the revamp.
The Cross, the Key and Canvas will have a final party on New Year's Day before they make way for the bulldozers.
A spokesman for Canvas said: "Everything will be shutting down - that is when our lease is up so it made sense to go then.
"It is going to be a good New Year's Eve down here."
It is expected Argent's plans will include new nightclubs. There are currently three casinos in Camden and 82 other gambling premises.
They have all won renewed licenses under the new rules.
Cllr Don Williams, chairman of Camden's licensing committee, said: "The council has given businesses as much help and support as possible to ensure a smooth transition."
katie.davies@hamhigh.co.uk
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