Further plans for “the UK’s answer to Disneyland” have just been released and now it’s the turn of the public to have their say on them.
A consultation is now under way for the new theme park resort, with Paramount Pictures also on board.
The London Resort – which is set to take shape in Swanscombe, Kent and is just 17 minutes by train from London St Pancras station – has been in the works for the past eight years, with initial concept plans having been outlined back in 2012.
If these newly-released plans – dubbed ‘the evolved masterplan’ – are given the green light to go ahead, The London Resort would be the first park of its kind to be built from scratch in Europe since Disneyland Paris in 1992, and new Chief Executive PY Gerbeau said the industrial site would be “transformed into one of the most exciting destinations in the world”.
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The London Resort
According to the new plans, The London Resort will include four hotels, that boast a total of around 3,500 rooms, as well as dozens of rides, attractions, entertainment, eSports and conference venues, all across two theme parks.
After signing the deal with Paramount pictures too, it will it will even feature rides based on the studio’s films, as well as TV shows from the BBC and ITV.
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Speaking on the ‘evolved masterplan’, CEO PY Gerbeau continued: “The London Resort represents a unique opportunity to bring a thrilling and exciting global entertainment destination to the UK with a breadth of facilities”.
“It will generate multi-billion-pound investment, thousands of jobs, and will transform a largely brownfield site into one of the most exciting entertainment destinations in the world.”
“As well as maximising new, immersive and interactive technologies, our aim is also to be one of the most sustainable major theme parks in the world, pursuing an operational net zero emissions goal. Sustainability is at the core of our vision and we continue to explore new and innovative ways of integrating sustainable and low-carbon principles into every area of design and operation of the resort”.
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London Resort
It has been indicated that 9,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs would created for the resort within its first year, and they claim that figure would rise to 17,000 and eventually over 35,000 respectively after 15 years.
The types of available roles would range from high-tech engineers, to seasonal part-time workers.
The London Resort has also invited the public to have their say on the plans. The Statutory Consultation period will take place from 27th July – 11.59pm on 21st September, with webinars, online Q&A sessions, telephone surgeries and other activities planned throughout the seven week period.
“We have listened, analysed and considered all the feedback given to us through extensive consultations” continued Gerbeau.
“[The London Resort] is the first project of its kind to be designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project so while it’s incredibly important for local communities to continue contributing, it is also important for the nation to have its say.”
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If these new plans are successful in securing development consent, construction is projected to begin on The London Resort in early 2022, with a potential opening date in 2024.
You can find more about The London Resort and have your say here.
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Kevin De Bruyne reveals he wasn’t offered a new contract by Manchester City
Danny Jones
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he wasn’t offered a new contract by the club before making the decision to leave at the end of the season.
The 33-year-old is preparing to leave the Etihad after more than a decade, following the conclusion of the current 2024/25 campaign, announcing the decision earlier this month.
It goes without saying that the Belgian playmaker isn’t just a fan favourite and club legend but one of the most revered players in European football, let alone England, having been transformational both for the Blues and the Premier League.
Although his exit hasn’t come as a complete shock, given his age and increasing injury problems, De Bruyne himself has confessed that he was “a bit surprised” not to be offered a new contract by Man City whatsoever over the past year.
Kevin De Bruyne has revealed his shock at not being offered a new contract with Man City and has not ruled out joining another Premier League club 📝 pic.twitter.com/ymUDaI4CvJ
As per multiple outlets, KDB shared the revelation during his post-match media duties after the Everton game on Saturday, revealing: “I didn’t have any offer from them the whole year and City made a decision. Obviously, I was a bit surprised but have to accept it.”
Despite a firm belief that he “can still perform” at this level (one most would wholeheartedly agree with him on), he assured he understood the club’s thinking and even admitted that it was “more of a relief” knowing that he was the first to learn that news and could announce his departure on his own.
Insisting that he’ll still be giving everything to help the team win in their remaining games this season, he went on to detail that the decision has been made “because the whole team has struggled.”
“Maybe if the team didn’t struggle and I came back like I did this year and bedded in like normal, then maybe they would take another decision”, he added, arguing that he’s playing with much more rhythm and confidence post-injury.
After all, he was the difference once again in the remarkable comeback against Crystal Palace.
De Bruyne has made it clear he’d be more than happy to stay in the Premier League.
Although he wouldn’t go into too much detail on the conversations, he reiterated, “I can’t really say what they think on the inside […] I have to accept the situation even though I feel like I can still do a good job, but that’s it.”
Despite many fans coming to terms with the difficult choice made by the club, many supporters still believe it is an oversight on CFG’s (City Football Group) part.
One social media user has nearly 5,000 likes and almost 400 comments on a post entitled: ‘A petition to make Manchester City apologise and offer Kevin De Bruyne a new contract’.
While not everyone is in agreement on the matter, there is clearly plenty of doubt, with the same account going on to add, “There’s no shame in admitting a mistake and offer[ing] Kevin De Bruyne a new 1-year contract. His influence in the dressing room, let alone on the pitch, remains of critical importance.”
It’s hard to gauge exactly what manager Pep Guardiola makes of all of it, either; apart from his farewell message included as part of the club statement confirming his contract expiry, this is pretty much all the Catalan coach has had to say on the matter thus far:
A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.
Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.
This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.
Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?
Credit: The Manc GroupCredit: Immersia XR (supplied)
Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.
Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”
A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.
It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.
Credit: Supplied
As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.
Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.
Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.
Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.
Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles:
Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.
Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.
Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”
Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.
Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
28th July 2020 
