London Resort could bring 50,000 jobs and worlds of adventure to Thurrock's doorstep

By Neil Speight

5th Jan 2021 | Local News

THE company behind the planned £3.5 billion London Resort theme park on the other side of the Thames to Thurrock has made a major step forward by putting its plans before the government and more details have emerged of what attractions it will contain.

If approved, the park is set to have a massive impact on the economy of Thurrock as it will offer thousands of jobs, many of its visitors will arrive at a new waterside terminal in Grays and those travelling by road will park up and travel from areas in Tilbury that have been earmarked within the Development Consent Order (DCO) now submitted.

The application comprises more than 25,000 pages of reports, assessments and analysis. It details exactly how the largely brownfield former industrial site on the Swanscombe Peninsula will be transformed.

The plans are to develop two theme park gates, a waterpark, a conference and convention centre and an e-Sports facility. More than 3,500 hotel rooms will also be created. In addition, two ferry terminals – one each side of the River Thames – will be built, along with back-of-house facilities, a visitor centre and a new road from the A2.

The vast majority of the materials required to construct the resort will be delivered by river.

The park might also prove the catalyst to speed up plans and support for an underground tram link between Thurrock and Kent.

Work on the project could begin within 12 months if it gets the green light and some of the attractions could be open as early as 2024. The whole park would be completed by 2029 by which time it will be three times larger than any other park in the UK - spanned across 535 acres.

Around 70 per cent of the attractions undercover to cope with the unpredictable English weather.

If approved the attraction, which hopes to generate £50bn over the next 25 years, as well as create more than 50,000 jobs, will be filled with a vast array of rides and other exciting features for all ages to enjoy.

The entrance to The London Resort will be via a grand plaza that leads visitors and hotel guests through 'The High Street,' featuring shops, restaurants, hotels and a waterpark.

The theme park will have six themed lands.

These are The Studios (a modern-day warehouse district inspired by blockbuster movies), The Woods (an enchanted realm influenced by fables and fairytales), The Kingdom ( swords, sorcery, dragons and Arthurian legend), The Isles (giant creatures, mythical beasts and jaw-dropping architecture), The Jungle (ancient ruins of a long-lost Mesoamerican civilisation) and The Starport ( a sci-fi, 23rd-century landing zone).

Just to the north lies The Woods, an enchanted realm that puts a fresh spin on well-known bedtime stories, fables and fairy tales.

Next to the Woods is The Kingdom, an immersive realm of swords, sorcery, dragons & legend based on legends from King Arthur's England.

Then there is The Isles, a land of giant creatures, mythical beasts and adventures on high-tech rides, and The Jungle, which features ancient ruins of a mysterious long-lost Mesoamerican civilisation to keep young explorers occupied.

The final land called The Starport is a 23rd century landing zone dedicated to futuristic experiences, alien encounters and science-fiction rides.