The ambitious £2.5 billion theme park project in Kent has been scrapped due to legal troubles and planning delays, leaving many disappointed.
Kent: So, the big plans for a £2.5 billion theme park, often called the “British Disneyland,” have officially been thrown out. It’s a real bummer for everyone involved.
This park was supposed to be massive, like 136 Wembley stadiums big! They first announced it back in 2012, and it was going to be built on the Swanscombe Peninsula.
Dr. Abdulla Al-Humaidi, the guy behind the idea, had big dreams. He wanted rides, hotels, restaurants, and tons of jobs. They even planned to build over 3,500 hotel rooms and two ferry terminals.
But things went south. After a bunch of delays, a High Court judge put the company behind the project into liquidation. They were in a legal mess with Paramount, who were really upset about some money they claimed was owed.
A spokesperson for the company said the dream is over, thanks to the courts. They mentioned that Natural England really hurt the project, and now it seems the UK won’t get a chance to compete with such a grand idea.
Steve Norris, a former Transport Secretary, called it a “tragedy” for the country. He pointed out that after a decade, they still didn’t have planning consent, which is pretty sad for the UK’s planning system.
He also mentioned that the lack of support from the UK government likely scared off funding from the Gulf. It’s a tough situation for everyone who invested money and for the future of Kent.
