Developers of The London Resort - a major new theme park planned on the Thames River east of the city - have withdrawn their planning application for the resort.
The withdrawal scuttles plans to open The London Resort to fans by the middle of the decade. CEO PY Gerbeau cited two obstacles driving the decision to withdraw: a special environmental designation for the resort's site on the Swanscombe peninsula, and a decision to grant "freeport" economic status to a zone on the opposite bank of the Thames, where the Resort had planned a ferry terminal for incoming visitors.
"We have repeatedly petitioned for latitude, extensions of time and of course understanding from the Examining Authority and the Planning Inspectorate. Their teams have been extremely supportive, but we recognise that the best route for the Project is through withdrawal and resubmission of a fresh DCO application within this calendar year," Gerbeau wrote in an announcement on the resort's website.
Originally announced a decade ago as London Paramount Resort, the development has had a history wilder than most thrill rides, losing then gaining then losing IP partners, while also navigating the "and then something went terribly wrong" bureaucracy of planning approval in the UK.
Throw in the pandemic, and the resort's planned opening date has slipped from 2018 to 2020 to 2024 to 2025 and now to... shrug?
Developers last year revealed plans for a Vekoma flying coaster in a dinosaur-themed land in the park.
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Until this project is officially done and dusted, I am determined to be entertained by the glorious mess of this whole journey. To that end, if this project truly is denied the approval to break ground, I am certain that they will come back with a proposal to make it a floating park above the city instead.
Seems like a very rapid reaction to the environmental story the other day. I thought this had national infrastructure status that was going to get that over that hurdle though.
It will never happen, I'd love for it to happen but it doesn't look like it.
This is sad news. I've never been to London but hope to visit one day and this would have been one of my more anticipated places to check out. A lot of folks were cynical about this project and I just shrugged it off as negative nelly's and such. But now these folks look like realists. I don't know much about London zoning or politics but it seems like this project was indeed just wishful thinking.
Makes sense a coaster park hits so many ups and downs.
I just wish other sites would stop referring to this park as "London's Disneyland." Not every theme park is a Disneyland.
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Don’t mean to be cynical, but i highly doubt we’ll ever see ground break on this project.