The owners of a landmark seafront building are set on a collision course with Blackpool Council after announcing plans to turn it into a casino.

The Noble Organisation wants to convert the Palatine Building on the Promenade into a three-storey casino complex clashing with the council's own scheme for a massive casino, hotel and conference centre on a vast site which would also include the building.

Noble's application was lodged in the same week the council announced its latest plans for the former Central Station including Blackpool Police Station and courts.

The 23-hectare site identified by the council includes the Palatine Building as well as Coral Island and Funland amusements, also owned by Noble.

A council spokesman said: "We have two current planning applications submitted on April 19 which under consideration.

"An earlier application for the use of part of the first floor and the second floor as a casino was submitted on November 5 2004 and subsequently withdrawn on December 6 2004 because at that time planning permission would not have been required to use the premises as a casino although there has since been a change in the planning regulations which means that planning permission is now required."

The firm has also made bids to turn Coral Island and Funland into casinos but both were blocked by council planners last year. In addition to planning permission, a licence from magistrates would be required for the proposed casino.

The Gateshead-based group already has permission to turn an arcade in Newcastle into a casino. The group, which runs amusement arcades across the country, rarely comments publicly. Nobody was said to be available to talk about the application.

The council's own development brief for the site, which will be the subject of a six-week consultation, calls for the creation of a hotel of at least three star quality and a world class conference centre alongside a suitable leisure facility probably the casino.

The document sets out the council's planning design and transport objectives' for the site, bordered by Adelaide Street, Bank Hey Street, Central Drive and Chapel Street.

While most of the land is already council-owned, the council is prepared to use its compulsory purchase powers to buy buildings which stand in the way of major developments as it has done for the redevelopment of the Hounds Hill shopping centre.

Deputy leader Cllr Eddie Collett said: "This site represents a great opportunity for Blackpool to secure a spectacular new flagship tourism development which would act as a vital catalyst for major regeneration of the resort."

Blackpool is expected to learn at the end of this year if it has received the one UK super casino licence.