London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), the company behind the proposed London Paramount Entertainment Resort in North Kent, is holding a series of public consultation events across North Kent in July. These public consultation events comprise the first stage of the year-long consultation process, and are a key part of the planning procedure.
LRCH has applied to the Government for the project to be considered under special planning regulations (to which the Government has agreed) and intends to submit a planning application next year. LRCH is the first “Business or Commercial Project” to be considered for special planning regulations, as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which will hopefully help streamline the planning process.
Prior to a planning application being submitted there will be a four stage consultation and engagement process. The initial public events taking place in July will be designed to help shape the consultation process by seeking to understand how the local community would like to be consulted on the proposals. The local community will be asked for their thoughts on a range of approaches to the consultation, with options being explored to ensure that engagement will be far reaching and robust.
Ebbsfleet United Football Club director Fenlon Dunphy, on behalf of LRCH, said:
“We are looking forward to meeting the local community and ensuring that they are involved in every stage of the year-long consultation process. We think it is important that we consider the most appropriate and accessible way for people to be involved in our proposals for the London Paramount Entertainment Resort. We hope that everyone will fully embrace the opportunity to take part in the first stage of public exhibitions, which are specifically designed to establish the preferred communication and consultation methods of the local community and interested parties.”
The public exhibitions will be held at:
Thursday 10 July 2pm-8pm
Ebbsfleet Academy (in the sports hall)
Southfleet Road, Swanscombe, DA10 0BZ
Friday 11 July 11am-2pm
Eastgate (North Kent Community Church)
141 Springhead Parkway, Gravesend, DA11 8AD
Friday 11 July 4.30pm-8pm
British Legion Greenhithe
London Road, Greenhithe, DA9 9EJ
Saturday 12 July 12pm-5pm
Swanscombe Leisure Centre
Craylands Lane, Swanscombe, DA10 0LP
The local community is encouraged to attend the exhibitions, ask questions and provide feedback so that LRCH can understand the important issues that need to be considered.
For more information telephone the London Paramount community line on 0800 008 6765 or email consultation@londonparamount.info
For more information, please contact PPS Group
Press office telephone number 0808 178 2560 or via email at media@londonparamount.info
Notes to editors
The consultation
Approximately 89,000 invitation letters have been issued by Royal Mail to the local community and interested parties to inform them of the opportunity to take part in the London Paramount public consultation. This includes a mailing to all households, businesses and councillors in the Dartford and Gravesham boroughs; all parish councils in Dartford and Gravesham and the adjoining districts; in addition to adjoining local authorities in Bexley, Bromley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Medway, Thurrock, Essex (county) and Kent (county).
The site
The site, totaling approximately 700 acres is principally based on the Swanscombe Peninsula on land to the east of Lovers Lane, between the A226 and the River Thames. It also includes land that will link the site with Ebbsfleet International Station and the A2. The area has excellent public transport links to London, the rest of the UK and Europe and is in close proximity to the M25, A2 and M20.
NSIPs
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are major infrastructure developments in England and Wales, such as power plants, large renewable energy projects and major road projects, which are considered to be of national importance. From early 2014 the range of schemes capable of being classified as a NSIP has been expanded to include major leisure, sports stadia and business schemes if they are of sufficient scale and represent a substantial economic dividend.
Under the NSIP planning regime, LRCH is required to submit a Development Consent Order planning application to the Planning Inspectorate, specialist executive agency acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, rather than the local authority in which the development is located. The Inspectorate will then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who will have the final say on the application.
