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Kent, England | The London Resort | Entertainment Complex

All the directors right now:
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i bet they put the frogs there and then pointed the locals at it

damn, that would actually be a great 'producers' kinda scheme. but then you **** up and the frogs become invasive or something and the local council forces you to actually make hitlerworld, which turns out to be a rousing banksy-style success
 
Quote from the end of the article:

“To all the naysayers and doom-mongers, the London Resort is going ahead, as planned,” Gerbeau revealed at this year’s blooloop V-Expo. “To all businesses who believe they can play a part in creating a world of unique experiences, I encourage you to go to our website now, register your details and together we will create our footnote in history.”
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How the footnote in history will read:
“To all the naysayers and doom-mongers, the London Resort is going ahead, as planned,” Gerbeau was quoted to say in 2021.*



*Of course, all the naysayers and doom-mongers were right. The London Resort never went ahead.
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Fixed it for you, @JoshC. :
“To all the naysayers and doom-mongers, the London Resort is going ahead, as planned,” Gerbeau was quoted to say in 2021.*



*Of course, all the naysayers and doom-mongers were wrong. So glad we were able to get all of these specialists on board to deliver the Nandos, Pizza Express, VUE, and Hollywood Bowl.
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Perhaps surprisingly given the events of the last few months, the bosses have confirmed that they intend for the park to start construction next year, in anticipation of a 2024 opening: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/uk-disneyland-go-ahead-next-25603300.amp

I must admit, I’m slightly surprised that they’re still pressing ahead what with the major setback of the SSSI designation, but I must admit that their resilience does give me a sense of optimism that they’ll get it off the ground!

Being realistic, though, I’ll admit that a 2024 opening seems like an extremely tough target to meet at this point, and prior to today, I genuinely thought that they’d delayed it to 2025/2026 (I’m by all means open to surprises, but I’ll say that they’d have to be phenomenally quick to get this thing open in 2024 given that it’s nearly 2022 and the council haven’t even started assessing the application); assuming everything goes smoothly from here (and that’s far from a given, what with the last few months), I could maybe see 2025 or 2026, but 2024 seems like one heck of a tight deadline to meet. They’re going to have to get a real wriggle on to meet 2024; that’s only a little over 2 years away.

Assuming examination starts in 2022 and the application is approved in 2023, 2025 would fit with their previous construction timescale, but I’m unsure whether the SSSI designation means that they’d have to follow different construction methods (more sympathetic to the wildlife) that slow the process down, thus making 2026 a more attainable target?

I’m certainly cautiously optimistic that this thing could eventually happen, though… I’ll admit I’m perhaps less confident than I was a year ago when stuff was progressing so well, as something like an SSSI designation is a pretty big hurdle to overcome, but I do remain cautiously optimistic!
 
Just popped back to this thread for a giggle to see if Matt n had posted any more overly optimistic hope and low and behold he hasn't disappointed!! Give up mate this is not going to happen Ben called it on page 1 and as much as i would love them to prove him and me wrong they just not !!!
 
They can't get approval, design and build something this big in two years (giving them the benefit of the doubt as a late 2024 opening). It's simply not possible.

It'd take twelve months for the design to be complete, let alone any semblance of a finished project.
 
Hixee said:
They can't get approval, design and build something this big in two years (giving them the benefit of the doubt as a late 2024 opening). It's simply not possible.

It'd take twelve months for the design to be complete, let alone any semblance of a finished project.
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I thought they’d already designed it, for the most part? There’s a map with tons of areas on it, as well as a lot of concept art, and in some cases (Base Camp, for instance), even a fair few specifics in terms of attractions!

I will concede that if this project gets off the ground, I do not personally see 2024 as its most likely opening date (2025 or 2026 seems more likely to me), but stranger things have happened before… why would they make a promise they didn’t think they had at least a slim chance of keeping?

My opinion remains the same; I’m possibly less hopeful than I was a year ago, but I remain cautiously optimistic that this will eventually materialise.
 
Matt N said:
I thought they’d already designed it, for the most part? There’s a map with tons of areas on it, as well as a lot of concept art, and in some cases (Base Camp, for instance), even a fair few specifics in terms of attractions!
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That's not a design though. That's concepts. You need proper detailed engineering drawings to do stuff like this, and you don't develop that stuff until you've got some of the application/pre-application stuff sorted. It'll take a huge engineering consultancy firm many many months to get that sort of design ready.

I'm currently working on a pretty large project with very detailed concept plans, and we're still looking at over 9 months of design work before it can even be tendered to a contractor, and then the bulk of the construction works can start (yes, there are enabling works packages that can be accelerated, but not by that much). Not to mention that my project has the full support of the local authority and government, and the planning applications are basically just formalities - nothing like the ****-show going on with this project.

Matt N said:
why would they make a promise they didn’t think they had at least a slim chance of keeping?
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Do you not follow any politics in this country? You can say whatever you like and do whatever you like. These types of people are far too self involved to care about breaking any promises.
 
Matt N said:
I thought they’d already designed it, for the most part? There’s a map with tons of areas on it, as well as a lot of concept art, and in some cases (Base Camp, for instance), even a fair few specifics in terms of attractions!
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Concept art and final designs are very different things. Even if they knew what IPs they were going to use, it would take years of back and forth to get the final design agreed upon. For example, Disney started working with James Cameron about Avatar in early 2011, but the land did not open until mid 2017.

And again, Universal Studios Beijing got approval in early 2014, started construction in 2016, and opened this year. These things take well over half a decade from the stage London Resort is at today. It will not be open by 2024 even if everything suddenly starts to go smoothly from today. And things are not going smoothly with this project.
 
This kinda puts things into perspective... Makes me feel for all those affected by these continual delays for all these years... We joke about the fact that they're never going to build it, and some of us think that it may eventually happen. Meanwhile the very threat of it happening has serious consequences for other peoples lives, consequences that they are still unsure, 10 years later, whether they will have to face or not... Talk about living in limbo!
Dear Kath, Re: Application by London Resort Company Holdings for an Order Granting Development Consent. Additional Submission by Buckland Dartford Ltd, Vitesse Investments Ltd and the Peninsula Management Group Ltd

We refer to the Applicant’s letter of 27th October 2021, requesting a further extension to the start of the DCO process.

As a director of the Peninsula Management Group that represents many of the 140 plus businesses and 2,000 plus jobs on the Northfleet Estates and being a director of two of those companies, I wish to object in the strongest possible terms to any further delay being granted to The London Resort DCO Application submitted by LRCH.

The Applicant knew when it applied for the DCO that it wasn’t ready and within weeks of acceptance it was pleading for more time because ‘it hadn’t consulted properly’ and then more time to address the SSSI issues, despite having known all about them from Natural England prior to submission. This is simply not acceptable as part of a DCO process. Here we are, ten months later and instead of awaiting the Secretary of State’s decision; we are now potentially looking at delays to the process of fifteen months! This is beyond becoming a farce – it already is one and is making the Planning Inspectorate and the DCO process look a complete shambles.

Furthermore, it runs completely contrary to PINS’s assertion earlier this year (in response to LRCH’s original request for an extension) that “to minimise uncertainty for Interested Parties and Affected persons, it is important that projected timescales are met”. Projected timescales – even those set by LRCH – have repeatedly not been met.

I have dealt with LRCH for an unbelievable nine years now as they have messed around with this project and can tell you that LRCH will never ever stop asking for more time because as soon as they do, the examination will begin and as soon as it does, the thin tissue of gloss, hype and spin surrounding the application will be torn away. With a politician like Steven Norris as Chairman on their board of directors, there is a risk of perception that high level political pressure is being applied on the Planning Inspectorate.

This should be brought to a rapid conclusion and there are three choices:

1. LRCH withdraws and reapplies for another NSIP if it feels so confident of success;
2. The Planning Inspectorate rejects the application for lack of progress and information;
3. The DCO examination commences immediately without the granting of any further delay.

For nine years LRCH has continually failed to:

• engage with businesses and landowners (despite ongoing assertions to the contrary);
• make a single investment in land or property on these estates;
• meet announced and agreed DCO application dates;
• deliver announced financing and partnerships including failing to demonstrate sufficient funding streams to progress with any application or commitments as is required;
• recognise the environmental importance of the marshes;
• engage effectively with most public authorities;
• And, finally, failed to meet their publicly announced starting dates.

LRCH continues to be dysfunctional, dismissive, insensitive to the needs of others and toxic to the environment. Whilst it is being indulged with delay after delay, completely innocent parties continue to suffer.

Due to the blight impact, I am now four years beyond retirement age, still unable to make constructive plans for the future and counting company losses of well over three million pounds in destroyed property values, low rents and being unable to redevelop. Many other businesses are suffering in similar ways and unable to proceed with investment or expansion plans that would create real further employment for the area.

There are eight acres of employment land within these estates sitting frozen due to the inability to raise finance or move forward as long as this blight continues. There are many businesses that can expect nothing other than minimal or zero compulsory purchase compensation. With no provision of alternative accommodation on offer; for most here, it will spell ruination of their businesses, their finances and their dreams of passing a business down through their families. It is painful and utterly sickening to watch perfectly innocent family business owners and their staff suffering serious mental and physical health problems due to this DCO being permitted to run-on endlessly.

This uncertainty has paralysed local and regional development plans plus highway infrastructure and essential services installations.

It’s not just local either. By its own admission, the theme park proposals would potentially destroy leisure industries across a huge spectrum of the UK. What must these businesses be thinking as they look on privileged delay after delay being granted to this company and wonder how proposals that will destroy their desperately needed jobs and businesses in areas other than London, can possibly square with the Governments declared ‘levelling up policy’.

Is everyone aware that despite the devastating impact of Covid on businesses here, many on the Northfleet Estates spent huge amounts of time and scarce finance to engage legal counsel to examine the voluminous DCO submission documents, getting ready to challenge almost every aspect of this application? The widely vaunted 30% uplift in value by LRCH is a complete sham. None of these businesses trust them to give anyone a fair break and they are therefore fighting for their lives. Clearing calendars at the start of the year to assist the hearings and support their side of the story, they instead find themselves now being hung out to dry by the granting of continual delays and as a consequence now also face huge additional costs for their legal counsel to re-examine masses of documents all over again, simply because the Applicant couldn’t get the submission right in the first place. They knew it and we said it?

We ask the Examining Authority and The Planning Inspectorate, for once, to think about all these businesses, the serious health and economic impacts these delays are having and about all the wildlife charities and individuals caught up in this hideously unfair abuse of process and not just the Applicant.

If the Government’s aim is to support and promote businesses then please start by supporting the existing captains of industry and jobs it already has on these estates and cease granting perpetual delays to LRCH that have blighted their existence for nine years. That is time enough.

Yours Sincerely
D O HILTON
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Source: https://infrastructure.planninginsp...-001040-LonR_Douglas Hilton - 26 Nov 2021.pdf
 
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Nicky Borrill said:
Conservative… Former Mayor of London!
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Nah, he tried twice and lost both times!

He was a junior transport minister in Major’s government so should know a bit about the infrastructure needed for this project, although he’s never been hugely successful in business or politics.
 
Robbie said:
Nah, he tried twice and lost both times!

He was a junior transport minister in Major’s government so should know a bit about the infrastructure needed for this project, although he’s never been hugely successful in business or politics.
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Oh yes, you're correct, he lost to Ken...

I'm a northerner btw, I just remembered his name being linked to the Mayor's office :)

Who knows, In 20 years I'll be telling people 'Nico' was the Mayor of London... 🙈🤣
 
Opening in four years (giving them the benefit of the doubt of a 27th Dec 2025 opening day) is still just laughably unrealistic.

Another four years of consultant's fees though - ker-ching!
 
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