Yesterday saw the formal launch of a judicial review, which is to investigate the process undertaken by Newham council, which led to the awarding of a casino development license to Aspers.
Aspers are due to build a casino in Stratford close to the Olympic park on top of the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, which is also currently under construction.
The review has been launched by developers City & Eastern who remain adamant that their bid contained more benefits to the economy and the community. The decision has been challenged on the basis that a major factor of the bidding process was to provide effective regeneration for the surrounding community. However, City & Eastern claim that the selected Aspers bid contain none.
In a press release, City & Eastern listed the regeneration benefits of their bid at more than £250 million whereas the Aspers bid had none. On this subject, director of City & Eastern, Fergus Kinloch, said: “Newham Council has in our view needlessly turned away over £250 million of investment.”
He added: “The whole situation quite beggars belief and certainly doesn’t work in the best interests of Newham residents.”
