London Resort

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.[7] 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".[8] With an initial completion date announced for 2019, the park and related enterprises were expected to employ 27,000 people.[9] Plans have since been reviewed and revised, with the London Resort announcing its intention to open in 2024.[2]

The park was initially planned in partnership with Paramount Pictures, and would have been known as the London Paramount Entertainment Resort,[10] 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.[11] The cost of the development is estimated at £3.5 billion.[1]

In 2014, it was hoped that the park would spur the development of a new Garden City development at nearby Ebbsfleet.[12][13]

A ferry terminal is proposed on Swanscombe Peninsula to bring visitors from another new terminal in Tilbury, Essex.[1]

The themed lands planned for the park include:[14]

• Starport
• The Jungle
• The Isles
• The Kingdom
• The Woods
• The Studio
• High Street

The BBC, ITV[15] and Paramount Pictures[6] 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.[2][16]

BBC Worldwide productions that are expected to feature in the theme park are Doctor Who, Sherlock and Top Gear[17] Rides and attractions will also be based on the ITV children's programmes Thunderbirds Are Go and Robozuna.[18] Other rides and attractions that are expected to based on Paramount blockbusters are Mission: Impossible, The Italian Job and A Quiet Place.[19] It has been confirmed that 70% of the parks attractions will be indoors due to England's weather conditions, allowing year-round operation.[20]

In August 2019, LRCH announced a partnership with Radisson Hotels to build a 430-room hotel within the resort.[30] 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.[31]

The project has received both positive and negative responses within Kent.[32] 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.[33] In December 2012 the project secured the services of Chris Townsend,[34] 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.

In September 2020, the conservation charity Buglife began a campaign to save the Swanscombe Peninsula from development and to have the site designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[35] Buglife describe the peninsula as “a brownfield of the highest quality for wildlife, as well as a valued community space for walking, bird watching, angling and escaping the hustle and bustle of North Kent”.