Ken Barlow’s bumper cars, I’m a Celeb river rapids, the Jeremy Kyle Experience – these are just a few of the attractions visitors could get to try at a new ITV-inspired theme park, after developers of a multibillion-pound project signed a deal with ITV Studios.
Billed as the UK’s answer to Disneyland, the London Resort, to be sited in north Kent, was originally meant to be inspired by the films of Paramount Pictures, the Hollywood film studio behind blockbusters such as Mission Impossible, Star Trek and The Godfather.
Paramount pulled out of the £3.2bn project last year but the developers have since signed agreements with Aardman Animations, BBC Worldwide and now ITV.
ITV Studios makes a range of hit shows – from Love Island to Coronation Street – but the focus of the deal is understood to be the Thunderbirds Are Go series, which returned to TV in 2015.
Due to open in 2024, the London Resort will feature two parks set over 215 hectares (535 acres), plus 3,500 hotel rooms. Fifty rides and attractions based on popular film and TV shows are planned for the parks, which it is hoped could attract 50,000 visitors a day.
The latest deal could mean characters and scenes from ITV shows such as Coronation Street, This Morning, Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m a Celebrity make an appearance.
Steve Green, executive vice-president of children’s content and distribution at ITV Studios, said: “We are thrilled to be onboard with this world-class project, which will offer fans a whole new way to experience our brand.
“ITV Studios creates more than TV, building global franchises loved by generations of families, and we look forward to seeing our biggest global brands brought to life on such a grand scale in the UK.”
Steve Norris, chairman of the London Resort Company Holdings, said: “Globally recognised for its rich heritage of creating some of the most popular and entertaining content on the small screen, ITV has properties which have never been transformed into truly unique experiences.”
Millions of pounds have already been invested in the project, which is one of the largest in Europe. Its owners say the resort, near Swanscombe, a 40-minute train journey from central London, will create more than 30,000 jobs and contribute billions of pounds to the UK economy.
The project was given “nationally significant” status in May 2014, meaning planning applications could go straight to the secretary of state. It was initially hoped the resort would open in 2019, but it has been beset with delays and setbacks.
Last year developers outlined their key plans for the site to members of the government’s planning inspectorate.
There will be a range of indoor entertainment including cinemas and nightclubs. A variety of hotels with space to host conferences, exhibitions and events will also be built.
The project’s scale means enhancements will be made to flood defence works, while a new dual carriageway access road is set to be built between the A2 and the resort.
