Westfield Stratford casino decision challenged
Published: 06 May, 2011
The two unsuccessful bidders for the casino at Westfield Stratford, City & Eastern and Apollo Genting, are launching Judicial Reviews against Newham Council for its decision to grant the casino licence to Aspers
The decision is being challenged because while City & Eastern’s and Apollo Genting’s rejected bids reportedly included in excess of £250m of urban regeneration, no such development plans were offered by Aspers
A requirement set out in the 2005 Gambling Act states that regeneration must form part of any new casino bid
Fergus Kinloch, director of City & Eastern, said: “The Judicial Review process has formally been launched as we firmly believe that Newham Council failed to comply with the proper processes relating to the bid and that regeneration, which by law should lie at the very heart of any successful casino bid, quite simply appears not to have been taken into account, or worse, swept under the carpet, by Newham Council when deciding on which bid to select.”
Responding last month to news of City & Eastern's legal challenge, a spokeswoman for the London Borough of Newham said: "The council's decision making process to award the casino licence was robust and fair. We are aware of the legal challenge and are confident that all aspects of the process will stand up to scrutiny."
The spokeswoman said on Tuesday that there were no plans to issue a second statement in response to Apollo Genting's challenge.
A statement on Aspers’ website, said: "The 65,000-sq ft casino will be located in the Central Arcade at the new Westfield Stratford City at the heart of Newham and will be the first of its kind to open in the UK, creating up to 440 new jobs. Aspers properties deliver real economic and social benefits to local people through jobs, training and investment and in this way they contribute to sustainable urban regeneration."
