Britain is to get a £2billion theme park that could rival the scale of Disneyland Paris – and it could open its doors as early as 2021.
Measuring twice the size of the Olympic Park, the London Paramount Entertainment Resort is to be built on the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent.
It is estimated that around 50,000 tourists a day will flock to the attraction, which will include a large indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, rides, cinemas, restaurants, event space and 5,000 hotel rooms.
The theme park is being financed by Kuwait’s Al-Humaidi family and is set to feature attractions themed around BBC Worldwide shows, Aardman Animations and Paramount Pictures, the oldest major Hollywood studio in existence.
This could mean that elements from films including Mission: Impossible and The Godfather could feature throughout the resort.
The deal with the BBC may mean that some of the corporation’s biggest characters, such as Doctor Who and the Daleks may also make an appearance.
The project is said to have suffered a number of delays since its proposal, including planning application setbacks.
The main opposition has been from companies from the industrial estate that will be cleared to house the tourist attraction.
Following meetings with local residents last year, construction is now set to begin in 2018.
It is estimated that the resort will create around 27,000 jobs in the area and boost tourism to other attractions on the outskirts of London such as Knole and Hever castles.
Fenlon Dunphy, chief financial officer of the company, said to the Wester Daily Express: ‘This is going to have a hugely significant impact on the economy – we will dovetail into a lot of the other attractions in the area. It will be a game changer for much of Kent.’