Businesses have been invited to declare their interest in becoming a supplier to a multi-billion pound theme park project dubbed Britain's answer to Disneyland.

The £2.5bn London Resort could be constructed on the Swanscombe Peninsula, between Dartford and Gravesend, with plans to open its first gate in 2024.

It would cover 1,245 acres – a space equivalent to roughly 113 Wembley stadiums – and based on current industry trajectories would rank as the largest theme park in Europe, ahead of Disneyland Paris.

If given the green light by planners, bosses claim it will create more than 6,000 construction jobs, as well as 48,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs by 2038.

Half of those will be sourced locally, according to the developers behind the project, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH).

Now bosses are inviting local and regional businesses to become part of its supply chain.

The company says the park will be a "gamechanger" for the entertainment and leisure industry in the UK, generating £50bn of gross economic activity over an initial 25-year period.

They likened projected growth to that of Disneyland Paris which added €68bn to the French economy in the 25 years since opening, with the region the park is located, Seine-et-Marne, benefiting €22.4bn.

The attraction also made €13.7bn in purchases, of which 70% were made locally and 82% were made within France, adding knock-on benefits to local suppliers.

Resort bosses say the similarities to Paris are particularly encouraging for local businesses given its predictions for gate receipts for The London Resort.

According to LRCH there would be 6.5million visitors to The London Resort in 2025, growing to 12.5million visitors by 2038.

Tim Aker, development manager for the Kent and Medway Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), encouraged local firms to consider taking part.

“The London Resort is a fantastic opportunity for small businesses in the south east," he said.

"We encourage SMEs to register and see what part they can play in this exciting development.”

"This is a chance for SMEs to be part of the supply chain and take advantage of the economic benefits this project will bring to the region.

"At a time when the country needs investment, this will have positive effects on the local and wider economy.

"We encourage SMEs to register and see what part they can play in this exciting development.”

Andy Martin, strategy and communications director for the London Resort, said responses would help shape the theme park's approach to its leisure offering.

“Businesses of all shapes and sizes have a critical role to play in this unique project,” he said.

“The register of interest will help us understand more about the type and size of businesses that are interested in becoming a supplier.”

A planning bid was submitted to the government's planning arm late last year.

In April, LRCH released new details of one of the park's areas with a dinosaur themed section including Europe's fastest rollercoaster.

But plans hit a hitch after Natural England, the government's nature adviser, confirmed protected status for the Swanscombe Marshes where the park is set to be constructed.

Rival operator Merlin Entertainment, who are behind Legoland and Alton Towers, also voiced their concerns.

Theme park bosses were granted a four-month delay to address the marshland's new-found “ecological status” and SSSI designation.

The Planning Inspectorate will conduct a further site visit of the peninsula in September.

A six-month formal examination period is due to commence two months after that.

If approved, the theme park will be the first European development of its kind to be built from scratch since the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992.

After this it will be the government which will have the final say over whether the plans, earmarked as a nationally significant infrastructure project, will get the green light.

Businesses interested in becoming a supplier to the London Resort can register their interest here.

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