Stanley Leisure buy assets of Leeds United Properties for £5m giving it option to build leisure complex next to the football ground.

Stanley Leisure, the UK leisure group, has the option of developing a £125m casino complex after buying the share capital of Leeds United Properties.

The casino operator will be able to develop the seven-acre site next to Leeds United’s stadium after paying £5m for assets of Leeds United Properties.

As well as a 150,000sq ft casino the leisure complex will comprise restaurants, a hotel, bars, leisure facilities and shops.

Stanley said it will apply for planning permission subject to the reform of Britain’s gambling laws. The company said that the project could be finished by the end of 2007 and would create 1,000 new jobs.

Bob Wiper, chief executive of Stanley Leisure said: “We plan to build andexciting casino complex, to rival any development in the UK, which will be a huge entertainment attraction of which the region can be proud.”