A British version of Disneyland, estimated to cost over $4.3 billion, has been canceled after 14 years of planning due to a Kuwaiti businessman’s bankruptcy and the green agenda. Plans for ‘The London Resort’ were first announced nearly 14 years ago. The resort was expected to rival Disneyland Paris in size and visitors.
Promoters initially secured partnerships with major organizations such as the BBC, ITV, and Paramount Pictures. Proposed attractions included themes from popular franchises such as Top Gear, Paddington Bear, Mission: Impossible, and Doctor Who. The park’s design featured eight roller coasters, medieval castles, an Aztec pyramid, a 2,000-seat theater, and a nightclub. The project was anticipated to provide 30,000 jobs and attract 12 million visitors annually, with a planned opening in 2024.
However, financial issues and environmental concerns led to the project bogging down. The accumulation of over $123 million in debt and Natural England’s designation of the site as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) were critical factors in the decision to abandon the endeavor. Natural England, a government body, claimed the location’s previous industrial use created favorable conditions for various wildlife species, such as jumping spiders.
Paramount, an investor owed millions, alleged financial misrepresentation linked to Kuwaiti businessman Abdulla al-Humaidi, who declared bankruptcy last year. Al-Humaidi had invested nearly $50 million of his family’s funds into the project.
Along with costing the estimated 30,000 jobs and millions of dollars of tourist cash the park was set to bring in, environmental regulations in the United Kingdom have also been predicted to spark food shortages. British farmers warned in March last year that government “sustainable” farming policies incentivized farmers to use less land to grow crops.
Some green agenda advocates have even told Britons to stop heating their homes to meet carbon emission targets.
