New London Resort theme park dubbed 'UK's Disneyland' faces MORE problems as BBC and ITV pull out

THE £3.5bn theme park dubbed the 'UK Disneyland' faces more problems after the BBC and ITV confirm they will not be part of the ambitious project.

The London Resort, which hopes to open by 2025, has run into a number of issues due to its proposed location in Swanscombe in Kent.


In November, part of the area was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to a number of rare species in the area.

This inclues a tiny 1cm jumping spider, which is a endangered species.

According to the Mail Online, this has resulted in both the BBC and ITV pulling their interests from the theme park.

Both studios were reported to be involved with a number of attractions and rides, which would include the BBC's Doctor Who, Top Gear and Sherlock as well as ITV's Thunderbirds.

However, a spokesperson for BBC Studios said they were no longer involved with the project, along with ITV.

A BBC spokesperson told the paper: "BBC Studios has no commercial agreement in place with London Resort and no current plans to enter into any agreement."

They added they would "only consider doing so" if there was evidence that the park would have a positive impact on the environment.

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And an ITV spokesperson said they were only a " potential licensor" of the Thunderbirds to be included at the park, adding: "We can confirm that ITV no longer has a commercial arrangement with London Resort as the agreement has now ended. This means that Thunderbirds will not be a part of the park."

Sun Online Travel has contacted London Resort for comment.

London Resort still has a number of other potential collaborators for the project, including Paramount.

If the theme park does still go ahead, it will be three times larger than any other theme park in the UK – spanning a whopping 535 acres, the equivalent of 136 Wembley Stadiums.

Located between Gravesend and Dartford, Kent, it will also be the biggest brand new theme park investment in Europe since Disneyland Paris in 1992.

The park will be split into six different themed lands, along with a water park, three hotels and a shopping district.

This includes the high-octane action The Studios and fairytale land The Woods, along with attractions based on mythical creatures, the legend of King Arthur and futuristic space exploration.

Last year, plans were revealed for one of the lands called Base Camp, which would be dedicated to dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures with two rollercoasters, one of which will be the fastest in Europe reaching speeds in excess of 70mph.

The opening date of the park has already been pushed back – London Resort boss Py Gerbeau confirmed that the date has been pushed from 2024 to 2025.

London Resort hopes to eventually be a two-park resort, with the second expected in 2029.

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