The future of a colossal theme park often referred to as “the British Disneyland” remains uncertain after environmentalists slammed the ambitious project.
The London Resort Company initially unveiled plans in 2012 to construct a £3.5 billion theme park on 535 acres of former industrial land on the Swanscombe Peninsula near Dartford.
The park was expected to boast 50 rides and attractions, including eight massive roller coasters and various zones featuring medieval castles and an Aztec pyramid, along with a 2,000-seat theater and nightclub.
The artist's impressions depicted floodlights illuminating a grand castle and lava waterfalls in the park, which was set to be the size of 136 Wembley Stadiums.
However, the site has encountered numerous issues, including Natural England's decision to designate the land as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the company behind the park accumulating £100 million in debt.
In the latest setback, wildlife charities have appealed to Angela Rayner to completely revoke the planning permission due to its importance as a bird breeding site.
The company has reportedly spent £100m on the project since the plans were first announced, but it seems increasingly unlikely that it will ever materialise. The site is home to over 2,000 species of invertebrates and 82 species of breeding birds.
Buglife, CPRE Kent, Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPB all want the permission to be revoked – more than a decade after it was first unveiled.
The proposed theme park has now reached its 10-year anniversary as the subject of a Development Consent Order (DCO), a process that differs from regular planning as the decision is made by the government, not local authorities.
Wildlife experts have previously voiced their worries about the impact of the park on a tiny spider just one cm long.
The backlash from nature enthusiasts around the jumping spider – a critically endangered species found in only one other part of the UK – led to a loss of interest in the scheme.
PY Gerbeau, Chief Executive of the London Resort, commented: “In the best interests of the London Resort, we are withdrawing the current application; as a result of the classification of Tilbury as a Freeport which has meant revisions are required in moving the ferry terminal from Tilbury to Grays.”
The highly anticipated entertainment destination was set to open its doors in 2025, sprawling across a massive 1,245 acre site. Artist impressions painted a vivid picture of flood lights illuminating a grand medieval-themed castle and lava waterfalls.
The original plans for the site included a waterpark, conference and convention center and an e-Sports facility. Over 3,500 hotel rooms were also planned, along with two ferry terminals one on each side of the River Thames.
The London Resort would have marked the first European development of its kind to be built from scratch since Disneyland Paris opened its gates in 1992.