Paramount Resort Plan for Kent !!!!!

Just out today - i think.....

October 8 (Press Association) -- Plans for a new £2
billion "Disney-style" entertainment centre in Britain which
would create up to 27,000 jobs has been unveiled.
The new development by Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures
will transform an 872-acre brownfield site in the Swanscombe
Peninsula in Kent into one of the largest regeneration projects
in Europe, the consortium behind the project claimed.
At the heart of the proposed development is Europe's
leading entertainment destination, with a Paramount-branded
entertainment resort and leisure district.
It will feature Europe's largest indoor water park,
theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants,
event space and hotels and, if given the go-ahead, will be
twice the size of the Olympic site and should open in 2018.
The site is on the doorstep of Ebbsfleet International
railway station, which will provide a 17-minute journey time
into London, and two hours to Paris.
Tony Sefton, project leader for the development company
London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), said the plans were
Britain's next major regeneration project following the
Olympics.
"Our vision is to create a world-class entertainment
destination, the first of its kind in the UK," he said.
"We are at the start of a long journey, but have been
encouraged by the support and buy-in we have had to date.
"We are particularly pleased with the appetite we are
seeing from investors, who consider this a compelling
investment proposition.
"Over the next 12-18 months we will be progressing the
planning application, while embarking on a wide-reaching
programme of community consultation, while securing further
commercial agreements with third parties.
"Our timetable for delivery, including the planning
application process and construction timetable, is geared
towards completion and opening in 2018."
LRCH has signed an agreement with Paramount Licensing
Inc, the licensing division of Paramount Pictures, to give
exclusive UK licensing for a Paramount entertainment resort at
the heart of the site.
LRCH is also in negotiations with a range of major
British brands to sign licensing agreements.
The company has also been working closely with Dartford
and Gravesham Borough Councils, which have both offered support
for the project.
In a joint statement, Jeremy Kite, leader of Dartford
Borough Council, and John Burden, leader of Gravesham Borough
Council, said: "This development represents a tremendous
economic growth opportunity for the region.
"We have been impressed by LRCH's commitment to
integrating the development with the local community,
recognising the many economic and social benefits it promises
to deliver."

Yep, this story was on Sky News this morning also with interviews at the proposed site. Now is this as well as or instead of Spain?

 Copied from Sky News web site.

Plans for a theme park in the Thames Estuary to rival Disneyland Paris have been unveiled.

The £2bn development scheme for the Swanscombe Peninsula is set to be built on the brownfield site of what was once Europe's largest cement works.

The proposed park is led by a consortium including French cement firm Lafarge, Britain's Development Securities and Canadian constructor Brookfield Multiplex.

The trio has set up London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) to bring a Paramount Pictures park to fruition.

It said LRCH has signed a licensing deal with Paramount for the Hollywood studio's first UK theme park on the 872-acre site.

Paramount owns rights to numerous blockbuster films - including Titanic, Transformers, Braveheart and The Italian Job - which could be turned into themed rides and experiences.

Project manager Tony Sefton told Sky's Eamonn Holmes: "We haven't seen anything like this in the UK before.

"Job-wise this is very exciting. The direct jobs in phase one is 27,000 and that will be full-time jobs when we open.

"We will announce the number of construction jobs shortly."

Mr Sefton said the consortium has learned a great deal from the rehabilitation of industrial land for the Olympic Games park.

He said the task should be easier at the north Kent venue, located between Gravesend and Dartford, as the soil was mainly clay-based and easy to landscape.

Located adjacent to the to the Ebbsfleet International rail station, visitors could reach the venue in 17 minutes from St Pancras in central London.

Plans for the site include a water park, an entertainment area with hotels and restaurants, music venues and event space.

The theme park is expected to surround the other areas in a crescent shape at the end of the peninsula.

"We are very lucky and we are going to learn from the amazing Olympics and the games-makers," Mr Sefton said.

"We are planning to get the project open by 2018, that is the challenge, and we are three years into the journey."

The consortium is seeking global investors to back the project and plans to approach the Government over infrastructure expense assistance.

saw this on the ITN national news tonight and was surprised too. Makes you wonder - maybe they got fed up waiting for it to happen in Spain ? Mind you a water park in Kent, that should work about 3 weeks in the year (if you are lucky) as opposed to 26 in Spain. Will be interesting to see how this plays out with what's supposed to be on our doorstep.

One thing for sure, it certainly won't help the case for a Paramount Park in Spain as investors will see one in London and the south east as a safer bet - despite the appauling weather. Sounds like there is also some heavy investment already in place too. JF

Quote from a parmount site, is Spain still on??

"A similar theme park to the £2bn Paramount project in Kent is set to be built in Spain and is due to open in 2015. Before 2006 Paramount owned six theme parks in the United States but these were all subsequently sold-off."

As for Paramount, it appears that the one proposed for Kent like the one near to Condado, is going to be funded by outsiders and Paramount are not spending a penny but gaining

a great deal of free publicity.

Jan

Think this is nothing more than Paramounts development wing offering the opportunity for a region or country to build a theme park and to be licenced by Paramount to use some of their film theme's for their rides or park area's. They then take payments for the use of their name. Provided the land area suits and doesnt suggest any bad press for the Paramount name they'll go ahead with the proposals but its down to the region or country to raise the funds and get the build done. Paramount are quids in if it goes ahead and dont loose any capital if it doesnt happen.

Sampers said he had funding tostart the Murcia project and maybe it will end up being far smaller than the original plans if they can't raised the money needed to take it to the full specs. Things are so rocky financially it is hard to see investors going into this in a big way now.