Paramount London can do "only good things" for Dartford and Gravesend according to developers, who have announced plans to feature British films and Hollywood blockbusters, and build a new road to get people to the resort.

Emerging plans for the £2bn Paramount London Entertainment Resort on the Swanscombe Peninsula - featuring a theme park, waterpark, sporting facilities, an entertainment street, a staff training academy and about 5,000 hotel rooms - will be unveiled at 12 public consultation events beginning on November 5.

News Shopper:

Thousands of people are expected to attend the consultations, spread over two weeks, with five events held in both Gravesham and Dartford and a two events planned in Thurrock and Maidstone.

Those who attend are set to see confirmation of the revised timetable of plans for the project, now set to open in Easter 2020, along with outline plans of a new transport system surrounding the resort.

The plans are also expected to reveal aspirations to create direct roads to the resort from both directions of the A2.

Felon Dunphy, director of developers London Resort Company Holdings, spoke to News Shopper about the park's impact on Gravesend and Dartford.

News Shopper:

He said: "It can only be a good thing - it will bring people into the area who may then stay for three, four, five days, using Paramount as their base, and go out to London, to Gravesend, to Dartford, over to Bluewater.

"I don't think it will impact on the high streets as high streets are aimed at communities - it's a very different idea to what we will create at Paramount."

With plans for the park still firmly under-wraps, Mr Dunphy hinted that themed areas for the park could include Paramount films such as The Italian Job, Star Trek and Mission Impossible.

It was also announced that, unlike Disney World and Universal Studios, Paramount London will not solely feature films made by Paramount.

Mr Dunphy said: "One of the key things with Paramount was their willingness to allow British intellectual property into the site as well.

"We are very adamant it will have an eclectic mix of stuff. We are very clear it has to have a British identity as well."

London Resort Company Holdings have also revealed the boundaries of the resort.

News Shopper:

The developers are in advanced negotiations with both major landowners to secure an option agreement on the land, but it does not currently own the land proposed to host the site.

Mr Dunphy added: "The feedback we received from the public events in the summer has been instrumental in shaping how we run our next stage of consultation. With events across numerous venues in the area in November, and further events planned next year, we hope to speak to as many local people as possible.

"We are delighted that we are now at a stage to share exciting information about the proposals and we hope local people can come along to see our emerging master plan and share their views."

A new logo for the resort, which is expected to charge between £60 and £70 for a day ticket, has also been released.

News Shopper:

Find a consultation event near you:


November 5: British Legion Greenhithe London Road, Greenhithe. 11am-2pm
Eastgate, 141 Springhead Parkway, Northfleet. 4pm-7.30pm
November 6:  Northfleet School for Girls, Hall Road, Northfleet. 4pm-8pm
November 7:  Dartford Council Offices Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford. 3.30pm-7.30pm
November 8: Swanscombe Leisure Centre, Craylands Lane, Swanscombe. 2pm-5pm
November 10: Hazlitt Arts Centre (The Exchange Studio), Earl Street, Maidstone. 2pm-6pm
November 11: Bluewater, Greenhithe. 10am-9pm
November 12: Thurrock Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays. 2pm-6pm
November 13: The Woodville Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend. 4pm-8pm
November 14: St Botolphs Church Hall, The Hill, Northfleet. 3.30pm-7.30pm
November 15: Ebbsfleet United FC (ticket holders only) Stonebridge Road, Northfleet. 1pm-3pm
Dartford FC (ticket holders only) Darenth Road, Dartford. 1pm-3pm