Associate
- Joined
- 16 Feb 2009
- Posts
- 1,505
So I get to work this morning and just when I thought things were quiet the following comes through:
Hollywood film giant Paramount is to create 27,000 jobs with one of the world's biggest theme parks in north Kent.
The massive £2billion project is set to transform the Swanscombe peninsula, between Gravesend and Dartford, into an international tourist destination.
The entertainment complex will feature Europe's largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants, event space and hotels.
Derelict land next to the Ebbsfleet International station has been chosen for the huge project, on the same scale "as Disney".
It means visitors will step off the train and immediately be inside the complex - twice the size of the Olympic Park.
A consortium of top companies has been developing the plans and working with Dartford and Gravesham councils for a year.
In a joint statement, Dartford leader Jeremy Kite and Gravesham leader John Burden said: "This development represents a tremendous economic growth opportunity for the region."
Development firm London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) has been set up to spearhead the project and has signed a deal with Paramount Licensing Inc, the licensing division for the Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures.
Tony Sefton, project leader for LRCH, said: "Our vision is to create a world class entertainment destination, the first of its kind in the UK.
"We are at the start of a long journey, but have been encouraged by the support and buy-in we have had to date."
The complex is set to give a massive boost to tourism and inject millions of pounds into the local economy while the jobs will be welcomed in an area of relatively high youth unemployment.
The ambitious proposal will transform the Swanscombe peninsula, which stretches from Ingress Park to the Ebbsfleet United football ground at Northfleet.
It involves Paramount Pictures, London and Continental Railways, the BBC and ITV, and a host of other organisations. The plans have been put together by LRCH.
The 872-acre development has the backing of the landowner, Lafarge Cement.
Until now, the area has been the subject of a series of half-hearted housing proposals within the Thames Gateway.
Revived ideas include plans for a cruise terminal to be built at deep water moorings at Northfleet, close to the park.
"This will be one of the biggest job creation projects we've ever seen in Kent, on the same scale as the likes of Disney..." – Paul Wookey, Locate in Kent
It will be among the four largest theme parks in the world - but have a unique British historical and heritage theme.
Both Dartford and Gravesham councils have been involved in secret discussions with the developers almost daily for the past year as they try to secure the biggest single project in the Thames Gateway for north Kent.
A high speed train service between Germany, Ebbsfleet and St Pancras is expected to begin in the near future.
Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, the agency that promotes the county as a great place for business growth, said the project was of such a massive scale it could only be compared to a Disney theme park.
"This will be one of the biggest job creation projects we've ever seen in Kent, on the same scale as the likes of Disney. It's a great project to have in the county and ticks all the boxes. With the economy still struggling through recession, we must welcome projects of this type."
Kent County Council highways chief Cllr Bryan Sweetland (Con) said the park will need good road and motorway access.
He confirmed the Department for Transport is now looking at a significant variation to one of the three possible routes for an additional Thames Crossing.
He said: "The possibility of a new Thames Crossing at the Swanscombe peninsula must now be taken very seriously."
The complex - which is expected to take six years to get planning permission - will see 17,000 jobs created at the park, with another 10,000 among suppliers and service organisations.
The plan also includes proposals to raise the land and tackle flood risks along the waterfront.
________________________________________
Developers are promising:
• An "exciting" new resort in the global tourist market
• A showcase for environmental design and management
• A UK training academy for the entertainment and hospitality industries
• Apartments for the key workers
• Support for the local economy by, for example, buying Kent produce
• A new country park
• The largest single-site science and education visitor facility in Europe, generating one million educational visits a year
• A local base for manufacture and sale of leisure products
• The biggest performing arts centre in Europe
• Re-use of some Olympic infrastructure
• Emphasis on British and Kent character
• Reducing impact on roads
• The highest level of public transport arrivals of any major leisure resort in the world
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/october/8/paramount_park.aspx
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/construction-property/article3561290.ece
Hollywood film giant Paramount is to create 27,000 jobs with one of the world's biggest theme parks in north Kent.
The massive £2billion project is set to transform the Swanscombe peninsula, between Gravesend and Dartford, into an international tourist destination.
The entertainment complex will feature Europe's largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants, event space and hotels.
Derelict land next to the Ebbsfleet International station has been chosen for the huge project, on the same scale "as Disney".
It means visitors will step off the train and immediately be inside the complex - twice the size of the Olympic Park.
A consortium of top companies has been developing the plans and working with Dartford and Gravesham councils for a year.
In a joint statement, Dartford leader Jeremy Kite and Gravesham leader John Burden said: "This development represents a tremendous economic growth opportunity for the region."
Development firm London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) has been set up to spearhead the project and has signed a deal with Paramount Licensing Inc, the licensing division for the Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures.
Tony Sefton, project leader for LRCH, said: "Our vision is to create a world class entertainment destination, the first of its kind in the UK.
"We are at the start of a long journey, but have been encouraged by the support and buy-in we have had to date."
The complex is set to give a massive boost to tourism and inject millions of pounds into the local economy while the jobs will be welcomed in an area of relatively high youth unemployment.
The ambitious proposal will transform the Swanscombe peninsula, which stretches from Ingress Park to the Ebbsfleet United football ground at Northfleet.
It involves Paramount Pictures, London and Continental Railways, the BBC and ITV, and a host of other organisations. The plans have been put together by LRCH.
The 872-acre development has the backing of the landowner, Lafarge Cement.
Until now, the area has been the subject of a series of half-hearted housing proposals within the Thames Gateway.
Revived ideas include plans for a cruise terminal to be built at deep water moorings at Northfleet, close to the park.
"This will be one of the biggest job creation projects we've ever seen in Kent, on the same scale as the likes of Disney..." – Paul Wookey, Locate in Kent
It will be among the four largest theme parks in the world - but have a unique British historical and heritage theme.
Both Dartford and Gravesham councils have been involved in secret discussions with the developers almost daily for the past year as they try to secure the biggest single project in the Thames Gateway for north Kent.
A high speed train service between Germany, Ebbsfleet and St Pancras is expected to begin in the near future.
Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, the agency that promotes the county as a great place for business growth, said the project was of such a massive scale it could only be compared to a Disney theme park.
"This will be one of the biggest job creation projects we've ever seen in Kent, on the same scale as the likes of Disney. It's a great project to have in the county and ticks all the boxes. With the economy still struggling through recession, we must welcome projects of this type."
Kent County Council highways chief Cllr Bryan Sweetland (Con) said the park will need good road and motorway access.
He confirmed the Department for Transport is now looking at a significant variation to one of the three possible routes for an additional Thames Crossing.
He said: "The possibility of a new Thames Crossing at the Swanscombe peninsula must now be taken very seriously."
The complex - which is expected to take six years to get planning permission - will see 17,000 jobs created at the park, with another 10,000 among suppliers and service organisations.
The plan also includes proposals to raise the land and tackle flood risks along the waterfront.
________________________________________
Developers are promising:
• An "exciting" new resort in the global tourist market
• A showcase for environmental design and management
• A UK training academy for the entertainment and hospitality industries
• Apartments for the key workers
• Support for the local economy by, for example, buying Kent produce
• A new country park
• The largest single-site science and education visitor facility in Europe, generating one million educational visits a year
• A local base for manufacture and sale of leisure products
• The biggest performing arts centre in Europe
• Re-use of some Olympic infrastructure
• Emphasis on British and Kent character
• Reducing impact on roads
• The highest level of public transport arrivals of any major leisure resort in the world
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/october/8/paramount_park.aspx
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/construction-property/article3561290.ece
