One of the world's biggest theme park operators has stepped up calls for revisions to a £2.5bn rival attraction to face further public scrutiny.

Leisure giants Merlin Entertainment have previously argued the London Resort plans for an entertainment complex on the Swanscombe Peninsula should be withdrawn on legal grounds.

The company behind Legoland, Alton Towers and some of the UK's biggest attractions, told the Planning Inspectorate the bid ought to be resubmitted because the volume of new information to be provided amounted to a "material change".

It comes after bosses at London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) were granted a four-month delay to address the marshland's new-found “ecological status” and SSSI designation.

But the planning panel assessing the plans said they will consider whether new documents amount to a material change "as and when they are submitted".

Resort bosses are now proposing that its updated environmental statement will not be until late November 2021, which is 10 months after the application was initially accepted for consideration.

But in a communication sent to government planners, Merlin continue to insist the public and interested parties be given ample opportunity to reply to any "material changes" to the bid.

It has requested that any submission of updated information by LRCH be subject to full statutory consultation with "proper notice" and a "suitable period for consideration and response".

The leisure giant considers this is necessary to ensure any further representations can be submitted in "good order".

It said: "It is appropriate for the examining authority to have the full, consulted application as amended or expanded before it, with relevant representations, to consider the materiality of the change and to ensure the proper management of the examination in an orderly fashion.

"It is also entirely reasonable - and in the public interest - to expect that consultation on material changes be carried out prior to start of examination, rather than in parallel with the examination, in circumstances where it is clearly possible to do so."

The bid is currently at the pre-examination stage allowing detailed comments to be made by interested parties, such as councils, nearby businesses, transport operators and residents.

In earlier submissions, Merlin – the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator – said the case had not been demonstrated for a new theme park proposed by LRCH.

It claimed they had not "accurately portrayed" the existing visitor attraction market.

A host of environmental groups, including the RSPB and Bugslife, also wrote to the Planning Inspectorate saying the documents set to be submitted were considerably different to the original application.

However, developers behind the London Resort disputed this and say they are not planning any "material change" to the bid.

Following the awarding of protected status to the Swanscombe Peninsula, resort boss Pierre-Yves Gerbeau said it was "right and proper" to delay and review concerns.

"We’ve already committed to spending around £150m on remediation, habitat enhancement and providing around eight miles of footpaths and public rights of way," he said.

“But it is right and proper that we take a short extension to revise our reports and ensure they address the issues raised.”

Last month LRCH bosses said they were now contesting the basis on which the pensinsula had been awarded SSSI status.

In particular, it took aim at Natural England, accusing the government body of "largely ignoring" the most up-to-date ecological survey data, undertaken in 2020.

Resort bosses argue much of the area in question has been left largely unmanaged for decades leading to a potential decline in ecological value and biodiversity.

Whilst it says its "gold standard" case for sustainability – including spending around £150m on remediation, habitat enhancement and providing around eight miles of footpaths and public rights of way – would help assure its protection.

Meanwhile, local residents appear split on the prospects of a major entertainment resort.

One response submitted to the planning portal said: "I believe the development will damage the character of the area which will negatively affect my business and the enjoyment of those that come on the walks."

While another added: "I think the resort will be a fantastic idea and the jobs it will bring to the area will be much needed.

"I live very local to this and regularly walk or run that area and much of the park will be on a disused cement works."

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

The 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.

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