Back in 2008, when eight large and eight small casino licences finally were awarded to councils across the UK, Solihull was granted one of the large casino licences. A few weeks later Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), actually sited in Solihull, unveiled a plan to develop a leisure and entertainment complex with casino operator Genting as a partner. At the time the £90 million project was said to create some 1,000 jobs.

By 8 December 2009, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council had prepared its Statement of Licensing Principles, as required under the Gambling Act 2005, saying that in making decisions on applications for premises licences, the Council as the licensing authority will aim to achieve an effective balance between meeting the objectives of the Gambling Act 2005 and facilitating the sustainable economic growth and regeneration of the Borough.

In April this year an Application Pack was issued and the Council has now confirmed that two applications have been submitted for the casino licence. Genting Casinos UK Limited wants to build at the NEC and Grosvenor Casinos Limited, part of the Rank Group, has chosen the Otium Leisure Park site in the district of Shirley. The applications now must be judged according to the criteria set down within the Gambling Act 2005 and a report submitted to Members of the Solihull Licensing Committee on the 15 September 2010.

The Council has set a deadline of Friday 27 August for representations in respect of the applications to be made to the Licensing Manager in writing. If both applications meet the initial criteria, the Council will begin the second stage of the application process, where each applicant will outline the benefits that their large casino will bring to the Borough. The licence will be awarded to the applicant who would, in the Council’s opinion, bring the greatest economic, financial and social benefits to the area, but it reserves the right to pass a “No Casino Resolution” should it be considered that by granting a casino licence insufficient benefits would be available. (E-08.13.10)

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