Farrells masterplans £2bn London Paramount Resort, with Ray Hole Architects designing core facilities
by Tom Anstey | 07 May 2015
Farrells' vision for the £2bn development / LRCH Holdings
Global architecture firm Farrells – led by Sir Terry Farrell – are behind the masterplan for the upcoming London Paramount Resort, coming in 2020.
Speaking to CLAD, a representative for London Resorts Company Holdings (LRCH), which is behind the £2bn (US$3bn, €2.8bn) theme park and resort development, confirmed that Farrells would be masterplanning the entire development. Meanwhile, Ray Hole Architects will act as core facilities architects for the project.
With Farrells providing earlier conceptual masterplanning, the firm was commissioned to produce the development’s full masterplan, which was predicated on the need to integrate a leisure core offering a range of supporting uses, including the proposed waterpark, events space, hotel and other infrastructure.
The masterplan aims to create a major entertainment resort with the added complexities of integrating a large development into an area with existing communities with their own identities, as well as integration with the planned Ebbsfleet International Station and Ebbsfleet Garden City.
In the next phase of development – ahead of planning permission being approved – between Q2 2015 and Q3 2016, LRCH will announce further design and contractor appointments in order to be ready for the scheduled groundbreaking in 2017.
“The initial masterplanning team has been appointed, although this will expand as we move through further concept and design phases,” said the representative speaking to CLAD.
“This is all subject to planning permission being granted, with the decision expected to be made by the secretary of state in Q4 2016.”
Most recently, LRCH released new images and details for the development, unveiling a number of themed zones with rides and attractions. These include Adventure Isle – a jungle-themed zone which includes a white water rapids ride; Myth & Legends Castle – a medieval castle; Paramount Port Bay – a fantasy historical port; and Port Plaza – an area connected to both the castle and port following the same historical theme. Other zones planned for the park include Land of Legends, Cartoon Circus, the Star Trek-themed Starfleet Command, Action Square and Entertainment City.
The central areas of Paramount London are scheduled to open to the public in Q2 2020, with additional rides and attractions scheduled to come in the following years. LRCH estimates that the project will generate 27,000 jobs for the area.
The project was designated by the UK government as ‘Nationally Significant’ in May 2014. Ahead of submitting for planning permission in Q3 2015, LRCH is currently planning a fourth round of consultations with local residents and interest groups.
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Global architecture firm Farrells – led by Sir Terry Farrell – are behind the masterplan for the upcoming London Paramount Resort, coming in 2020. Speaking to CLAD, a representative for London Resorts Company Holdings (LRCH), which is behind the £2bn (US$3bn, €2.8bn) theme park and resort development, confirmed that Farrells would be masterplanning the entire development. Meanwhile, Ray Hole Architects will act as core facilities architects for the project. With
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