Buglife is delighted to confirm that the London Resort project, a proposed £2.5 billion theme park on the Swanscombe Peninsula, has officially been terminated. This decision follows a High Court ruling to liquidate London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) due to financial and contractual disputes, bringing an end to a decade of uncertainty and environmental concern.
From the outset, this environmentally damaging project faced numerous challenges, including the designation of the Swanscombe Peninsula as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England, recognising its immense ecological value. This designation highlighted the site’s importance as a haven for rare wildlife and underscored the need for its protection against inappropriate development.
The High Court’s ruling not only signals the definitive end of the London Resort plan but also lifts the shadow of doubt that has loomed over local businesses and the community for years. It ensures that this critical natural space remains safeguarded for future generations.
Furthermore, the Planning Inspectorate has held LRCH accountable for its “unreasonable behaviour” throughout the planning process, awarding legal costs to a number of organisations, including Buglife, National Highways, Kent Wildlife Trust and others. This recognition of wasted resources underscores the importance of due diligence and respect for environmental regulations in major development proposals.
Jamie Robins, Programme Manager at Buglife, said: “We’re delighted to have confirmation that the London Resort theme park is dead in the water- it’s another step to securing the future for the amazing wildlife at the Swanscombe Peninsula. For over a decade, the threat of the London Resort has hung over the Peninsula’s wildlife and local community, even when it became clear that it was one of the most important places in the South East for wildlife.
Together with Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent, RSPB and the Save Swanscombe Peninsula community group we’ve been working tirelessly in recent years to protect the site, calling for it to be a Site of Special Scientific Interest, writing to the Secretary of State and producing a Vision for the site as a nature reserve. The awarding of costs is a drop in the ocean and we have doubts as to whether we will ever get the funds, but it is at least recognition both of our effort and reflects the sheer chaos of the London Resort project from start to finish.
Hopefully this is the final nail in the coffin that will persuade the Government to withdraw the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) status and hand decisions over the site’s future back to local decision makers.”
Kent Wildlife Trust’s Nicky Britton-Williams added: “Yesterday marked the decisive end of the London Resort project, bringing much-needed relief to the precious wildlife of the Swanscombe Peninsula and the local community that relies on this vital natural space.
This outcome has been a long time coming, achieved through the relentless efforts of local campaigners and the united action of wildlife charities. Together with Save Swanscombe Peninsula, Buglife, CPRE Kent, and the RSPB, we worked tirelessly to protect this nationally significant site, repeatedly raising concerns about the project team’s disregard for the protections afforded to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
The failure to properly account for the importance of the SSSI, along with unresolved transport issues, led the Planning Inspector to rule that the London Resort Company Holdings acted unreasonably throughout the process, causing unnecessary expenses for us and other consultees.
As a charity with limited resources to address threats to wildlife across Kent, we welcome the opportunity to recover these wasted resources. While we remain cautious about whether we will successfully receive the awarded funds, we are hopeful that this serves as a powerful reminder: nature cannot simply be brushed aside. Let this stand as a testament to the importance of protecting our wild places for generations to come.”
David Mairs of CPRE Kent says: “The unprecedented award of costs to the coalition of conservation bodies who battled this misbegotten scheme is pure vindication for the time, effort and energy expended upon it.
Even if it’s doubtful that those costs will actually be paid, the point that the developer behaved unreasonably has been very much made. The London Resort scheme should never have been an NSIP in the first place and now, after dragging on far too long, should now be revoked. The Swanscombe peninsula was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest for a reason and should be protected in perpetuity for wildlife and local people.
It is a wonderful place in a desperately overcrowded part of the world and any thought of future urban or industrial development should not be allowed to leave the starting blocks.”
Buglife is keen to extend the charity’s gratitude to our partners and supporters, including Save Swanscombe Peninsula, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent, the RSPB, and the many individuals who stood with us to defend the precious haven. Together, we have ensured that this unique site, rich in biodiversity and cultural significance, will continue to thrive as a natural sanctuary.
Main Image Credit: Save Swanscombe Peninsula © Richard Bayfield
