HOPES that Kent will host a theme park made to rival Disney World were fading after the London Resort Company pushed back its schedule to submit a planning application to develop the Swanscombe Peninsula until spring.
The London Resort Company, which has already faced a series of setbacks, such as losing major partner Paramount, said the £3.2billion theme park will now not be ready until 2023 – a year later than originally planned.
Chiefs insist the latest delay has nothing to do with the departure of Paramount Pictures from the project, but rather is down to the complexities of the planning process.
Last week the developer announced it would be holding its final round of public consultation events in early 2018 – the fifth stage of an extensive programme of engagement which has already seen over 8,000 people participate.
CEO Humphrey Percy said: “This final round of consultation will be a crucial step towards completing our plans for the world class entertainment resort.
“We are delighted with progress on partnership agreements. We plan to build over 3,500 hotel rooms, operated by our new partner, Intercontinental Hotel Group; constructing the majority of the Resort and new roads and infrastructure with materials stored at and transported from the Port of Tilbury, with whom we have recently signed an agreement.
“We are now in very detailed commercial negotiations regarding partners, the concepts they are embracing and some of the incredible creative propositions.”
