London Resort

The London Resort is a proposed theme park and resort in Swanscombe, Kent. The project was announced on 8 October 2012 and it is estimated to open a first gate by 2024 with construction beginning in 2021[1] and a second gate by 2029.[2]

The London Resort
LocationSwanscombe, Kent, England
Coordinates51.4617°N 0.3117°E / 51.4617; 0.3117
OwnerLondon Resort Company Holdings
Operated byLondon Resort Company Holdings
Opens2024 (proposed)
Previous namesParamount Kent, Paramount Pictures Theme Park
Operating seasonYear-round
Area872 acres (353 ha)
Websitehttp://londonresort.info/
StatusUnder construction

Originally known as the London Paramount Entertainment Resort, the project originally involved Paramount Pictures. In June 2017, it was announced that Paramount had pulled out of the project[3][4] and the planned complex was renamed as London Resort.[1] However, in June 2019, London Resort gained the necessary licences to still have rides based on Paramount Pictures' films.[5]

Plan

At the 2012 launch of the project it was announced that the complex would feature Europe's largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants, event space and hotels. Allied to the project would be a training academy for the entertainment and hospitality sectors, a new country park, a large science and education visitor complex and "the biggest performing arts centre in Europe".[6] With an initial completion date announced for 2019, the park and related enterprises were expected to employ 27,000 people.[7] Plans have since been reviewed and revised, the London Resort announced their intention to open in 2024.[1]

The park was initially planned in partnership with Paramount Pictures, and would have been known as the London Paramount Entertainment Resort,[8] with the park's theme having an emphasis on Britain and Kent, as well as Paramount films and entertainment properties. The team at the Resort subsequently agreed with Paramount to separate and the project became known as the London Resort.

The plans for the park received considerable backing from the British government when it became the first commercial venture to be awarded Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project status allowing the developers to bypass local planning requirements.[9]

In 2014, it was hoped that the park would spur the development of a new Garden City development at nearby Ebbsfleet.[10][11]

Attractions

The themed lands planned for the park include:[12]

Original artist impression.
  • Starport
  • The Jungle
  • The Isles
  • The Kingdom
  • The Woods
  • The Studio
  • High Street

The BBC, ITV[13] and Paramount Pictures[5] have been attached to the proposal, with the intention of showcasing Hollywood and British culture. Aardman Animations and the British Film Institute were attached, but later pulled out of the project.[1][14]

BBC Worldwide productions that are expected to feature in the theme park are Doctor Who, Sherlock and Top Gear[15] Rides and attractions will also be based on the ITV children's programmes Thunderbirds Are Go and Robozuna.[16] Other rides and attractions that are expected to based on Paramount blockbusters are Mission: Impossible, The Italian Job and A Quiet Place. It has been confirmed that 70% of the parks attractions will be indoors due to England's weather conditions, allowing year-round operation. [17]

Development

The site straddles the border of the Dartford and Gravesham boroughs and both authorities have pledged their support.[18] In July 2014 the first community consultation was held with a short series of exhibitions in the area around the peninsula.[19]

In April 2013 newspaper reports[20] claimed development may be delayed by the discovery of a rare species of spider. Sefton pledged to remove the colony of distinguished jumping spiders (Attulus distinguendus) to another suitable site.

The following month, the Kent Messenger reported[21] that plans for the theme park could be endangered if a new Lower Thames Crossing was sited over the Swanscombe Peninsula and quoted Sefton as saying "It could really scupper plans. We are in the final throes of negotiating a very large investment and this makes it very difficult." However, the crossing proposal was rejected in December of that year.[22]

In June 2020, further details were released outlining the steps being taken in preparation for submitting planning permission in late 2020, with public consultations scheduled for Q3 2020.[23][24] An enviromental report was also submitted in June 2020.[2]

Resorts

In August 2019, LRCH announced a partnership with Radisson Hotels to build a 430-room hotel within the resort. [25] In the environmental scoping report published in June 2020, it was detailed that the park intends to build 4 hotels in addition to the theme parks totalling approximately 3550 rooms with 2500 rooms to be available for the first park. The plan also revealed a proposed 3000 seat convention/conference centre, an eSports arena and a number of indoor and outdoor theatres. [26]

Reactions

The project had received both positive and negative responses within Kent.[27] A commentary in the London Evening Standard in October 2012 called into question the commitment of some of the development partners, namely landowner Lafarge Tarmac, builder Brookfield Construction and property company Development Securities.[28] In December 2012 the project secured the services of Chris Townsend,[29] as its commercial director. Townsend performed the same role for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on behalf of the London 2012 Summer Olympics and is charged with attracting investors for debt and equity funding.

References
  1. Sweney, Mark (1 May 2019). "Wallace and Gromit creators pull out of 'UK's Disneyland'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  2. "Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report" (PDF). The London Resort. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. Chapple, James (June 21, 2017). "Paramount announces shock split from £3.2bn theme park plan". getsurrey.
  4. "Theme park development deal collapses". BBC News. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  5. https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/paramount-pictures-signs-new-deal-with-theme-park-207446/
  6. "£2bn plan: Mission is possible". Kent Messenger Group.
  7. Price, Chris. "Paramount Park developers reveal goal to begin construction in 2016 and open in summer 2019 as public exhibitions on plans open". Kent Online. Kent Messenger.
  8. Price, Chris. "Paramount Park developers reveal goal to begin construction in 2016". Kent Online. Kent Messenger. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  9. Chiorando, Maria. "London Paramount park receives planning boost". Kent News. Archant. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  10. "15,000-home garden city to be built at Ebbsfleet". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  11. Price, Chris. "Paramount Park developers reveal goal to begin construction". Kent Online. Kent Messenger. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  12. Mander, M; er (5 December 2019). "Themed Lands of London Resort Announced". Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  13. Schofield, Claire (30 April 2019). "New London Resort theme park dubbed 'UK's Disneyland' will have rides based on ITV shows – here's what we know". inews.co.uk.
  14. Sweney, Mark (May 6, 2019). "Rollercoaster ride: £5bn UK theme park faces string of delays" – via www.theguardian.com.
  15. Sweeny, Mark (10 December 2014). "Sherlock World? BBC shows lined up for £2bn UK theme park". The Guardian.
  16. Hickmott, Lucy (1 May 2019). "Concerns over plans for new theme park". Kent Online. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  17. Simpson, Craig (December 5, 2019). "Planned £1 billion British theme park has a plan for the weather" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  18. "Reaction to £2bn Paramount theme park for Kent". Kent Messenger Group.
  19. Price, Chris. "Paramount Park: London Resort Company Holdings to host a series of public exhibitions on plans for the £2bn theme park on Swanscombe Peninsula". Kent Online. Kent Messenger. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  20. "The Independent". London. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  21. "KM Online". Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  22. "Option B thrown out in Lower Thames Crossing debate". Echo News. Newsquest (Essex) Ltd. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  23. "LONDON RESORT ANNOUNCES PUBLIC CONSULTATION". londonresort.info.
  24. "London Resort: Public urged to have say on 'UK's Disneyland' plan". BBC News. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  25. MacDougall, Lauren (August 14, 2019). "Another big brand signs up for Kent's £3.5billion answer to Disneyland". kentlive.
  26. https://www.southparks.co.uk/files/2020/06/London-Resort-Scoping-Report.pdf
  27. "Residents campaign against 'tacky eyesore' London Paramount planned for Swanscombe Peninsula". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  28. Bill, Peter. "A roller coaster ride for 'Disney by the Thames'". Evening Standard.
  29. Beard, Matthew. "2012 Chief to head 'British Disneyland' bid". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
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