A casino in the heart of Preston may soon become a reality as planning approval is set to be granted.
Preston City Councillors will discus the plans to allow the casino, creating dozens of new jobs, next Monday 31 March 2014.
The new casino will transform the currently vacant ‘Fives’ venue on Guildhall Street and help preserve the ornate building.
Preston Council Planning officers backed proposals for a casino on the upper ground, first and second floors of the grade II-listed building.
The former Preston Conservative Club converted to the once popular up-market night time drinks venue Fives. The club closed in 2011.
The basement level that used to be the Cocktail Factory and is now the Chinese restaurant Face will be unaffected by the development.
As the old building is listed any changes require planning and listed building permission.
Planning officers commented, “The proposed casino will bring activity to vacant premises, helping to protect and conserve a listed building within a conservation area, and adding to the vitality and vibrancy of the city centre”.
Award-winning Kirkham based chartered architects and urban designers Croft Goode Ltd are working as agents to develop the casino. No changes internally or externally to the building are currently planned.
The old Fives building went on the market for £995,000 in 2012.