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Answer: The applicants were Meridian Delta Limited (MDL), English Partnerships, AEG Dome Arena Ltd and Quintain Estates and Development Plc.
Answer: The planning application was submitted in December 2002. It was considered by Greenwich Council’s Planning Board on 16 April 2003, which resolved to grant planning permission for the redevelopment. The resolution was referred (unopposed) to GLA and GOL. Planning permission was issued on February 23rd 2004. The Board is a committee of elected Members of the Council.A number of conditions and planning obligations were attached to this resolution. The principal condition was that the planning permission would not be issued until the conclusion of Section 106 negotiations. These negotiations concern community benefits, which are agreed as part of the planning consent. They do not allow the planning permission itself to be amended.Planning permission was issued on 23 February 2004, following the drawing-up of necessary legal agreements, S106, between the parties involved, including the council.An application to amend this consent was made towards the end of 2004 and approved in August 2005. The amendment granted was as follows: erection of deck over service yard; elevational changes to accommodate assembly/leisure/sports/entertainment including other D2 uses.
Answer: The permission was granted in respect of the planning application, which had been submitted for the redevelopment of the Greenwich Peninsula and the Dome. This application does not include specific proposals for a casino. When the Council resolved to grant planning permission for the dome Masterplan, the Council was aware that under the terms of D2 planning use at that time it was possible for the developers to incorporate casino-related activities into the development. However, as casinos were not permitted in Greenwich at that time there was no question of a casino being part of the development.Once the issue of regional or super casinos was raised Greenwich Council lobbied the Government and later took part in formal consultations to argue that casinos be removed from D2 uses. That position has been accepted by the government and casinos are no longer allowed under D2 consents.Should a super casino licence be granted for Greenwich, the developers will be required to submit an additional planning application.
When the dome redevelopment Masterplan was considered by the Council’s Planning Board in April 2003, the plans included 13.21% of the floorspace designated D2 use. At the time D2 use incorporated sports, leisure and entertainment use and could include the development of casino facilities. It was not the council’s role or responsibility at that time to approve the specific uses within D2; whether casino use or any others. However, under the 1968 Act casinos were only allowed in specified areas. In London these were in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea so the question of a casino in Greenwich was not relevant.Following subsequent lobbying from the Council, D2 planning use no longer includes