Progress in plans to build attraction

IDEAS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PARAMOUNT RESORT COME TOGETHER

PLANS for a £3.5bn “entertainment resort”, dubbed Britain’s Disneyland, are on course according to London Paramount Bosses.

The group behind the development, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) say their bid to bring the theme park to life is entering the final stages of the planning process.

The developer will, however, have to seek a Development Consent Order from the government to bring plans to fruition, due to the sheer scale of the proposals. A formal application is then expected to be submitted in November this year.

Humphrey Percy, group CEO of the project’s parent company Kuwaiti European Holdings (KEH), said: “We have the financial backing to take us all the way through [the] process.”

This follows the departure last month of KEH chief executive David Testa, who has played a key part in the plans so far.

This week however, Mr Percy stressed that his departure was simply “coincidental.”

So with plans in their final stages, here is all you need to know:

Where will the theme park be?

Just a stones throw away from London, the 872-acre plot will be built on the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent and is expected to bring 33,000 jobs to the area.

When may it be open to the public?

LRCH hope the attraction will be able to open its doors in 2022, according to Kent Live .

Building work could start on the project in 2019, with the park scheduled to open in 2022, which is two years later than originally planned.

Around 50,000 visitors are expected to attend each day, and there will be space for 14,000 cars, with ticket packages combining travel and entry costs to promote the use of public transport.

Mr Percy said: “We are working with the railways to make sure there’s sufficient capacity.

“We’re also considering having a boat from central London or Greenwich which will all be part of the attraction.”

What have I got to look forward to?

The park will boast a hotel featuring 5,000 rooms.

There will be rides and rollercoasters inspired by Paramount Films, as well as BBC and Aardman Animations. However, no characters or franchises have yet been chosem, because who knows what films will burst onto the scene before 2022?

Mr Percy said: “We’re working with world class theme park design companies to make sure we have a real attraction. I’m talking about companies [with] headquarters in California and support the major film studios and attractions across the world.”

There are also plans for a theatre, retail outlets and a nightclub.

How much will it cost me?

In current proposals, a full price day ticket is drafted at £57 and there are plans for price packages.

“We will make sure that this experience is for the whole family,” said Mr Percy.

“It’s going to be a very amazing and exciting thing for them.”

What next?

Before the plans can be submitted, a fifth and final public consultation will be held later this year, where any interested parties will be able to attend and ask questions about the project.

See ww.londonparamount.info for more information.