North Yorkshire Council has approved plans by Jimmy Corrigan’s Ltd to convert the former Casino Royale on Scarborough’s South Bay into a café, citing benefits to tourism and the local community.

A retrospective application to convert Scarborough’s Casino Royale into a café has been approved by North Yorkshire Council.

The proposal, submitted by Jimmy Corrigan’s Ltd, relates to the former Casino Royale arcade at 47-48 Sandside, overlooking Scarborough Harbour. The site, previously permitted for arcade use on the ground floor, has now been transformed into a coffee shop with an outdoor seating area.

Planning officers noted that no objections were raised by the highway authority, which found the change of use would not affect traffic conditions.

Council planners said the alterations were in keeping with the surrounding conservation area and nearby listed buildings, describing the scale and appearance of the shopfront as appropriate.

Addressing concerns about the outdoor seating, officers said the space was acceptable, “such that it does not encroach on the highway or cause unacceptable obstruction”.

In its decision, the council stated the development presented “a local business which serves the local community and supports” tourism in the seaside town.

“The development represents an investment in this business, and such alterations and investments are an essential aspect of keeping such a community facility up to date,” concluded the planning report. “The coffee shop is now established in and appropriate to its location, providing services not just to the local community, and the new use is complementing the mix of cafe and retail uses within the harbourside location.”