READ MORE ON THE CASINO AND ROYAL PIER PLANS

A NEW Las Vegas-style casino could transform Southampton's Royal Pier into a luxury gambling and leisure complex within three years, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Port bosses backed plans for a redevelopment of the waterfront site after it was revealed the Government is to give Southampton the green light for a giant casino.

At twice the size of Britain's current biggest casino, it would be the catalyst for regenerating the derelict pier and gridlocked roads around Town Quay.

A casino development - which could create up to 350 jobs and provide a £10m cash injection for the city economy - could also feature bars, restaurants and a hotel.

The news comes two months after plans for a multi-million pound residential development at Royal Pier collapsed for the third time in two years.

Port owners Associated British Ports (ABP) had previously opposed having thousands of flats on the waterfront, but port director Doug Morrison yesterday told the Daily Echo that ABP would consider proposals for a casino.

To read more, see today's Daily Echo.