Henry Boot Developments will include a casino in its Axis scheme in Nottingham city centre.
London Clubs International has just been granted a gaming licence for the new £8m, 50,000 sq ft casino. It has also taken 30,000 sq ft for a car park in the basement of the scheme.
Henry Boot bought the former Co-operative department store in January 2004 and is carrying out a £25m, 220,000 sq ft redevelopment. It will also include 110,000 sq ft of shops and leisure, 50,000 sq ft of offices and 18 flats.
A rival retail scheme in the city, by Helical Bar-backed retail developer Overton, abandoned similar casino plans late last year in favour of student flats.
Overton headed by the former managing director of Helical Retail, Jim Kelly had been in talks with operators including LCI and Gala over a 60,000 sq ft casino at its larger Trinity Square scheme, but lost patience as confusion mounted over government policy.
“We could not get an unconditional agreement with a casino operator,” Kelly said. “At one point we thought the casino could fall into the supercasino band.”
He said the decision was unrelated to the casino planned at the Henry Boot scheme.
Henry Boot has also let a 5,000 sq ft store to Christopher Wray Lighting and is close to letting 6,000 and 3,000 sq ft units to two restaurant chains.
Henry Boot is advised by HEB; London Clubs by Adlers.
References: EGi News 21/02/05
