The man behind the multi-billion pound plans for the London Resort - a huge theme park in the county - has vowed it will be built despite the "naysayers and doom-mongers".

The long-running ambitious project - first announced in 2012 - is due to be built on the Swanscombe peninsula.

After numerous delays - which have prompted many to question whether it will ever be constructed - it is hoping the first phase of the £2.5bn project will open in 2024 with work commencing next year.

Now PY Gerbeau, CEO of London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), has hit out at those who doubt the park's ambition.

He said: “To all the naysayers and doom-mongers, the London Resort is going ahead, as planned."

His comments came as he announced the first three firms to have been chosen to help develop the £2.5bn entertainment complex.

A further 65 have been advised they are in the running to work on the park.

Among the first three is Dartford-based Electrosonic.

It designs and manufactures lighting and audiovisual control systems and has previously work on concerts for the likes of Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Genesis and The Who.

It has also provide the 'biggest permanent projection-mapped show in the world' at Warner Bros World in Abu Dhabi.

Paul Taylor, senior consultant at the firm, said, "As a company that is involved with many of the most iconic themed entertainment brands and attractions around the globe it is a real thrill to have an opportunity of working on such an exciting project here in the UK and right on our doorstep. We are really looking forward to being part of the team that will deliver this iconic attraction as the project starts to build real momentum.”

The other firms named are Derbyshire-based Garmendale Engineering which is a world leader in the manufacture of theme park ride systems. It has established working relationships with some of the largest and most successful theme park operators in the world such as Universal Studios, Merlin Entertainments and Parques Reunidos Group.

Another Derby firm, themed attraction designer Katapult, make up the trio. It works with the likes of the Lego Group, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros and the BBC.

More than half of the other 65 firms, so far not named, are British.

The appointments mark the first phase of a business registration process that began over a month ago, when nearly 2,000 businesses registered their interest in being part of the project. Some 30% of which are based in Kent or Essex.

PY Gerbeau, CEO of LRCH, was keen to stress the door is still well and truly open for more businesses to register.

He said: "It is a day to celebrate British innovation and technological wizardry. Electrosonic, Katapult and Garmendale are all leaders in their fields and together we are on a journey to create our own slice of history by building the UK’s first next generation theme park. But turning our vision into reality will be complicated.

“We will be the first theme park across Europe, to be built from scratch in nearly 30 years. We will be one of the only operationally carbon neutral parks in the world. And with our investment in sustainability and the environment, we will be beacon of what can be achieved when the environment, commerce and entertainment flourish together, hand in hand. To make that vision a reality, we will only work with the best of the best that industry has to offer and today marks the first day of that exciting journey ahead.

“To all businesses who believe they can play a part in creating a world of unique experiences, I encourage you to go to our website now, register your details and together we will create our footnote in history.”

The start date of the formal planning examination to decide whether London Resort should go ahead was delayed once again last month.

The six-month inquiry to determine the application was anticipated to start in September.

But the beginning date has now been pencilled in by planning inspectors to launch in April – more than 13 months after the plans submitted at the start of this year were accepted for review.

It follows discussions between LRCH and the Planning Inspectorate which suggested further information would need to be submitted for the examination to progress.

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