December 31st 2024.
The long-awaited project to build a £3.5 billion theme park in the UK, known as the ‘UK Disneyland,’ has finally been abandoned. After nearly 14 years since its initial announcement, the plans for ‘The London Resort’ have been scrapped due to disputes over funding and concerns for the conservation of a rare type of spider.
Located on the Swanscombe Peninsula, between Dartford and Kent, the resort was intended to be Britain’s answer to Disneyland Paris. The ambitious project boasted partnerships with major companies such as the BBC, ITV, and Hollywood studio Paramount, with proposed attractions based on popular shows like Top Gear, Paddington Bear, Mission: Impossible, and Doctor Who. The resort was also set to feature eight thrilling roller coasters, medieval castles, an Aztec pyramid, a 2,000-seat theater, and even a nightclub.
However, the dream of having a Hollywood-inspired fairground to rival Disneyland has come to an end. The Swanscombe Peninsula, where the park was to be built, is an important feeding ground for wading birds and other marine wildlife, with reedbeds and marshland. This led to the site being designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England, causing further complications for the project.
Despite the potential for the resort to create 30,000 jobs and attract 12 million visitors annually, the project faced financial struggles, accumulating over £100,000,000 in debt. These financial challenges, combined with the obstacles presented by Natural England, have led to the project being shut down.
The London Resort Company, the company behind the plans, entered into an agreement with creditors last year to continue operating while seeking additional funding. However, Hollywood studio Paramount, who is owed £13,000,000, has taken legal action against the company. This has resulted in the company being declared bankrupt and the project being deemed unlikely to ever continue.
Natural England’s designation of the land as a Site of Special Scientific Interest was due to the unique variety of wildlife that has made its home in the area. This includes various plants, birds, and the distinguished jumping spider, one of the rarest insects in the country. Sally Smith, press and advocacy officer at Kent Wildlife Trust, expressed no surprise at the project’s cancellation, stating that the plans for the theme park had been “dead in the water” for some time. She also added that they have been fighting to have the special planning removed from the site to protect it for future generations.
The fate of the London Resort Company Holdings will be determined in two further court hearings next year, with the first one scheduled for January 17. Until then, the once-anticipated ‘Dartford Disneyland’ will remain nothing more than a distant dream.
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