Game on for casino as rivals drop challenge

Apollo Genting, a joint venture between Apollo Resorts & Leisure and gaming operator Genting, said its own plans would have offered 2,000 full time jobs at Silvertown Quays in Docklands.

Its larger, 400,000 sq ft mixed-use complex, which included a casino, had been rejected in favour of a "quicker and smaller-benefit solution".

A company spokesman told Property Week: "We maintain that our submission would have delivered the greatest benefits to Newham in terms of jobs, investment, training, education and kick-starting the brownfield site. However, the council decided they wanted a quicker and smaller-benefit
solution."

He added: "We have other greater and clearer opportunities in our businesses that we wanted to focus on. And while that in no way suggests we didn't think we had a good chance with the judicial review, these things take months and years to get through."

City & Eastern was leading a consortium with plans for a casino within a £250 million mixed-use regeneration project at Gallions Reach in Docklands.

The plans included 1,200 full-time jobs. A spokesman said: "The decision to withdraw was made reluctantly as we still firmly believe Newham has wasted an opportunity for additional regeneration and income for the borough."