The London Resort (Paramount Park London)
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The company behind plans to develop a Disneyland-style theme park has called in financial administrators. London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) is hoping to build the controversial £2.5 billion London Resort attraction on the Swanscombe Peninsula near Dartford.

A spokesman for LRCH confirmed adminstrators have been appointed after building up £100 million debts and the company will enter a period of financial restructuring through a Company Voluntary Administration (CVA). They said this will enable the company to reorganise its creditors and aims to convert those owed money into shareholders "ensuring the long-term surety of the company".

The project remains ongoing and the spokesman added LRCH has "continued commitment to the delivery of jobs and regeneration" on the peninsula.

Source: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/amp/company-behind-2-5bn-theme-park-calls-in-administrators-283986/

At this point would it not be easier for them to find a new area of land to build this project?

Early concept sketches by Branislav Hetzel of the 2019 version of The London Resort, which features Paramount IPs:





Sources: https://www.facebook.com/100075978082067/posts/pfbid0249oKC82yZnhYzh2VUDF8tEyU6rgneaU9ai1buKXNx3f1g8rEj5qWVPAvyFxPUBKKl/ and https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hetzeldesign_hetzeldesign-design-schematicdesign-activity-7026259865761124352-pD3B

The London Resort has today confirmed that the Project will submit a planning application within 2023. They have also confirmed that the footprint of the project no longer proposes to spread across the entirety of the Swanscombe Peninsula rather on parts of it, taking into account Natural England's SSSI designation and have further reshuffled the board.

PY Gerbeau has decided to step back from his role as fulltime CEO of LRCH following the withdrawal of the DCO application earlier this year. PY's contribution and insight has been greatly appreciated and we look forward to him continuing to advise the Project as he pursues his portfolio career.

Steve Norris, Chairman of LRCH said: "I've had the pleasure of working with LRCH for more than a decade now. Progress has not been easy or straightforward. We have faced a number of issues which have delayed us including a designation by Natural England as a SSSI, and being forced to revise our entire transport strategy. PY was a great leader and we are very grateful to him for his contribution. He helped us develop our business plan and brought some great insight into the history of the leisure industry."

"What I am pleased to confirm, is that following a comprehensive review and total change of the approach the project will undergo further financial restructuring in Q1 2023 and will thereafter be on a firm footing to move forward. It will be funded, has a realistic and deliverable business plan and compelling partnerships with global brands. It's time to move forward at pace with our new application.

"We have benefitted from a first-class team at the London Resort, but after this tumultuous year, it's time for a comprehensive reset and refocus. We will be changing the proposals significantly, but remain wholly committed to delivering in Swanscombe. There is huge scope for exciting destination leisure development and we will share more as we move forward next year."

Other changes to the Board include the departures of Alan Crane and Ahmed Al Aiban who we thank for their time with us.

Source: https://salonmickey.wordpress.com/2022/12/22/london-resort-sees-management-changes-and-reduced-planning-application-for-2023/

Andy Martin, a spokesman for London Resort said: “The team at the London Resort remains committed to bringing forward revised proposals in 2023.”

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/legal-bid-to-shut-down-2-5bn-theme-park-firm-dismissed-278862/

London Resort Company Holdings' in-house design division, London Resort Design Group, will be struck off the register of UK incorporated companies and dissolved within a month or so because accounts are overdue.

Sources: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12863971 and https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12863971/filing-history/MzM0NzAyMzE3NGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf

PY Gerbeau said: “In the best interests of the London Resort, we are withdrawing the current application; as a result of the classification of Tilbury as a Freeport which has meant revisions are required in moving the ferry terminal from Tilbury to Grays. We are working closely and collaborating with Thurrock Council on that matter.

“This issue, combined with the decision by Natural England to designate a brownfield contaminated site as a SSSI has impacted the project. We in turn have acquired significant land holdings as part of our mitigation strategy combined with our commitment to spend £150m on environmental improvements on the peninsula. These changes are considered material and as such require withdrawal and resubmission.

“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.

“We will continue our engagement with the local community, statutory bodies, landowners and others to make sure we can reach as many agreements as possible before resubmission. Make no mistake we are still 100% committed to this amazing project and we will resubmit before the end of 2022 and look forward to delivering a world class entertainment resort – the UK deserves better and we will make it happen!”

Source: https://londonresort.info/news/london-resort-planning-application/

It’s interesting that they use a render of a velociraptor from Jurassic World because the original Dinotopia books are about a society where humans and dinosaurs live together in peace so an aggressive dinosaur doesn’t really fit in context.

The Dinotopia area concept art that I shared back in November has been posted on another website and it's cropped differently displaying more of the full image:



I combined this version with November's version to get the almost full version of the concept art:



Source: https://www.farrbury.com/LondonResort_ArmillaCapital_EmailLPage/ via https://ignoble-experiment.blogspot.com/2022/03/invest-in-london-resort-from-50k-find.html

According to an article from The Daily Mail, both BBC and ITV are no longer involved in The London Resort because of environmental concerns surrounding the project:

Yesterday BBC Studios, the commercial ventures arm of the corporation, confirmed it was no longer involved with the project.

A spokesman said: 'BBC Studios has no commercial agreement in place with London Resort and no current plans to enter into any agreement.

'We would only consider doing so should there be clear and decisive evidence that the project would have a net positive environmental impact.'

An ITV spokesman added: 'ITV's arrangement with the London Resort was that we were a potential licensor of one of our children's brands, which was Thunderbirds.

'We can confirm that ITV no longer has a commercial arrangement with London Resort as the agreement has now ended. This means that Thunderbirds will not be a part of the park.'

The London Resort’s statement to The Daily Mail regarding this news is the following:

'Nobody ever said major infrastructure projects were easy or quick. We look forward to delivering the first top tier theme park for the UK.'

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10553653/Tiny-spider-just-1cm-long-leads-BBC-ITV-pulling-plans-London-Resort-theme-park.html