Plans for a 60,000 sq ft casino at the Trinity Square retail scheme in Nottingham have been scrapped as a result of confusion over government gaming policy.
Helical Bar-backed retail developer Overton has instead won consent from Nottingham city council to build 200 student flats.
Overton – headed by the former managing director of Helical Retail, Jim Kelly – had been in talks with Gala and London Clubs International, but lost patience with the situation. He said: “The casino market is in total confusion at the moment and operators seem to be putting their names down on lots of schemes but not signing up.”
Gala this week wound up its joint venture to develop eight regional casinos in the UK with Harrah’s International.
Overton will now build a total of 700 student flats in two blocks on the 2.5-acre Milton Street site, as well as 200,000 sq ft of shops and restaurants and a multi-storey car park.
The £100m development on Milton Street will be Nottingham’s largest retail scheme since the Broadmarsh and Victoria Centres were built over 30 years ago.
Kelly said Overton had also secured over 100,000 sq ft of prelets – to Dixons, TK Maxx and Borders.
Haskoll designed Trinity Square. Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker and Capital Retail are advising Overton.
