Lions' relief after casino planning decision
Now it's a case of when rather than if for arena
A year on from the club facing the possibility of being forced to leave Milton Keynes, MK Lions could have faced a fresh threat to their city status, had InterMK not been successful in acquiring planning permission to build a large casino.
Headed by Dons chairman Pete Winkelman, InterMK were given an unexpected boost last Thursday when their application for a new building at Denbigh was granted, despite a recommendation from Milton Keynes Council officers that it should be turned down.
The consortium will now have to compete against two other parties to be given a premises licence for a casino.
But had InterMK not received the go-ahead for a new building next to stadium:mk, they could have returned to their option of applying for a licence to operate a casino at the already built arena - Lions' proposed home for the last five years.
Six years ago InterMK were given the right to build a casino on the stadium or arena site as part of their original planning permission.
It has always been the group's preferred plan to have another building on the site - meaning both a casino and Lions could be accommodated.
But had they not got the green light, they may have returned to their previous option, meaning the Lions may have been forced to look away from the city for another long-term home venue.
Thursday's council planning committee decision takes away any uncertainty over what the arena is going to be, explained Mr Winkelman.
He said: "The arena is going to be our next big project and we can now look forward to it being what we always planned for it to be. The decision means there is no more uncertainty about what it will be - a casino or a sports venue."
Lions are currently playing their home games at Middleton Hall in thecentre:mk, but hope to move to the arena in a bid to one day hosts European basketball - something their temporary home would not be able to.
Lions previously faced fears of having to leave the city when their home at Bletchley Leisure Centre became unavailable and the arena was some way from completion.
The arena will still be several months away from being ready, but work shouldn't be far away from starting, added Mr Winkelman.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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