The deal between developers and an entertainment company to build a major theme park and resort in North Kent has fallen through.

London Resort Company Holdings Limited and Paramount have “jointly agreed” to discontinue their agreement for an entertainment resort in Dartford.

MORE: A ‘number of recognisable brands’ will be at a north Kent theme on the Swanscombe Peninsula

The London Paramount Resort was planned to open its doors in 2022 and feature more than 50 rides across an 872-acre-park.

LRCH, the developers behind the scheme, estimate the attraction would bring up to 40,000 visitors a day.

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Humphrey Percy, CEO of LRCH, said: “We want to express our sincere thanks to the many members of the Paramount team who have worked with us since we took over the Project in August 2013.

“This announcement does not have an effect on the timing of our planned Development Consent Order submission in November 2017.

“We are working closely with the local authorities, landowners and local community, as well as our other stakeholders, and we very much look forward to showing our plans to the public as part of our final stage of consultation prior to submitting later this year.”

MORE: London Paramount Resort to open park doors in Swanscombe, Kent by 2022

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson has said the project needs to approached in the right way. 

Mr Johnson said: "LRCH have informed me of this change in approach. They clearly feel it will give them greater flexibility over who they work with on this project and the themes they will be able to offer.

"The main thing for me is not how the park is themed but how the local area will be able to cope with a large development of this nature.

"The jobs it would bring are very welcome but it has to be approached in the right way." 

Mr Percy said there are still plans to build a resort on the Swanscombe Peninsula and the announcement will not affect the existing time frame to apply for planning permission later this year. 

The site is planned to be twice the size of the Olympic Park and would include 5,000 hotel rooms and a water park.

Mr Percy said: “We are creating a unique entertainment destination offering a scale and quality unprecedented in the UK where much loved characters and stories will be brought to life from iconic movies, television, books, electronic gaming and toys.

“Just 17 minutes from Central London, one of the most visited cities in the world and with an investment of £3.2 billion, the resort will be a global tourist destination.”