January 21st 2025.
After years of anticipation, the company behind the proposed multi-billion pound theme park, known as the 'Dartford Disneyland', is facing legal action from Hollywood studio Paramount. The company, London Resort Company Holdings, had big plans for a £2.5 billion 'UK Disneyland' on the outskirts of London, but has now announced that the dream has come to an end.
The project, which was first announced nearly 14 years ago, was set to be located on the Swanscombe Peninsula between Dartford and Kent. It was marketed as Britain's answer to Disneyland Paris and promised partnerships with major names like BBC, ITV, and Paramount. The park was expected to feature popular attractions such as Top Gear, Paddington Bear, Mission: Impossible, and Doctor Who, as well as eight thrilling roller coasters, medieval castles, an Aztec pyramid, a 2,000-seat theatre, and even a nightclub.
However, the project has finally been scrapped due to a dispute over funding and concerns for the conservation of a rare type of spider. In a statement, London Resort Company Holdings said, "The dream of the London Resort has been ended by the courts." The previously released visuals of the Hollywood-inspired theme park will remain just a vision for now.
The London Resort was predicted to create 30,000 jobs and attract 12 million visitors annually, with a planned opening in 2024. However, after accumulating over £100 million in debt and facing opposition from Natural England, who designated the land as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the project has come to a halt. Paramount, who is owed £13 million by investors, applied to the High Court to liquidate LRCH, effectively ending the London Resort dream for good.
Steve Norris, a former transport secretary and former chairman of LRCH, expressed his disappointment, calling the project's failure "a tragedy". He also pointed out that the project still did not have planning consent after a decade of effort and investment, which may have contributed to the lack of funding from the Gulf.
Natural England defended their decision to protect the site, citing its unique wildlife and importance as a feeding ground for wading birds and marine life. The site, once used for industrial purposes, has now become a haven for various plants, birds, and the distinguished jumping spider, one of the rarest insects in the country.
In 2023, LRCH reached an agreement with creditors to continue operating despite owing over £100 million, while also securing an additional £607 million in funding. However, Paramount claims that most of the company's debt is linked to Abdulla al-Humaidi, a Kuwaiti businessman who was declared bankrupt last year. Al-Humaidi, who invested £40 million of his family's fortune into the project, has stated that the failed project has ruined his reputation and left him bankrupt.
Sally Smith, press and advocacy officer at Kent Wildlife Trust, expressed her relief at the news of the project's cancellation, stating that the plans for the London Resort and theme park had been 'dead in the water' for some time. She also added that the trust has been fighting to have the special planning designation removed from the site to protect it for future generations.
A further court hearing is scheduled to take place later this year to determine the fate of LRCH. The long-awaited Disneyland competitor for the UK may have come to an end, but the future of the Swanscombe Peninsula and its unique wildlife remains uncertain.
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