PLANS to open a casino in Bournemouth’s new BH2 development have been given the green light by planners.

At a meeting yesterday, the council’s planning committee approved the plans, with six board members in favour and two against.

The decision comes after the application by Aspers Casino and BH2 developers, Licet Holdings and Legal & General, was deferred last month due to a ‘lack of clarity’.

The revised plans sought permission for a 24-hour casino, which was granted yesterday despite concerns from some councillors about the suitability of a casino in a family entertainment centre.

They also reiterated their concerns from last month’s meeting that the casino plans had not been mentioned when the BH2 scheme was originally put forward.

Speaking ahead of the decision at yesterday’s meeting, ward councillor David Smith said despite being “disappointed” with the “underhand” way Legal & General brought in the casino plans, he “could not argue” with the legitimacy of the application in planning terms.

Cllr Lynda Price, who was opposed to the plans, criticised the condition requiring the applicants install CCTV worth £16,000 at public entrances to the building, calling the figure “peanuts”.

“This is a £50million development, I think we should be asking for more,” she said.

The new two-floor casino will be open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year, with live jazz music, a VIP area and electronic gaming machines.

The £50 million BH2 development will house an Odeon cinema and restaurants including TGI Fridays, Prezzo, Handmade Burger Co, Ask Italian, Nandos, Coast to Coast and Las Iguanas. Initially it was hoped that some businesses would be open before Christmas, but it was recently confirmed that the centre will open in the New Year, with all venues up and running by the February half term.

Richard Noble, chief operating officer of Aspers Group, said he was “very happy” plans for the casino had been given the go-ahead.

“We’re excited to be at the heart of the leisure facilities in this development and not ashamed to be located alongside other venues,” he added.