Plans for a huge theme park near Dartford have been pushed back yet again after its development company admitted it did not "sufficiently estimate" factors that could impact plans - after spending about £55 million on the project.

The London Resort was first announced in 2012 and has suffered several setbacks since. London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) has now confirmed it will push back its submission date for a Development Consent Order to 2019.

A statement released by LRCH blamed a clash of three development proposals in the Bean and Ebbsfleet area - including proposed changes to the A2 and the Thames Crossing - for delaying the submission.

As a result of proposals announced by Highways England, which will impact the road network in the area, LRCH has decided to 'reassess data' before submitting a proposal for the theme park.

Humphrey Percy, CEO of the developer, said: “We have reached a pivotal gateway stage in our application preparation.

"We believe it’s important to be clear about the challenge in the preparation and delivery of a project of this scale and complexity.

"It is fair to say that we did not sufficiently estimate the scope for ‘unknown’ issues to impact our programme.

"One example of which has been the significant changes in the way in which we must assess the transport implications and consequent environmental impacts.

“We have, to date, spent approximately £55m and, as is not unusual for a project of this scale, the pace of activity has varied.

"We know that many people are disappointed that we are revising our programme, but we cannot, nor should we seek, to shortcut proper process in our assessments simply to meet our self imposed deadlines.

"We are very much looking forward to progressing further with the project this year with the intention of submitting our application in 2019.”

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson slammed the developer for prolonging uncertainty for local businesses that could be forced out of their sites by a compulsory purchase order (CPO) should the plans go ahead.

He said: “Dartford is losing patience with LRCH and its proposed theme park. This latest delay is just one in a series of postponements that has created uncertainty for the existing businesses on the Swanscombe Peninsula and makes LRCH look incapable of ever delivering this project.

“I have always felt the jobs that could come from a leisure facility on the peninsula would be very welcome but I have yet to see evidence of how the local area would cope with the extra people and vehicles it would bring.

“The concept of a theme park was initially welcomed by local people but this uncertainty is becoming intolerable.”

Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite, said the amount of money committed to the project so far proves that LCRH are "serious people" but that "more work needs to be done" to take flow of traffic into account.

He said: "The local strategic network in North Kent, particularly around the M25 and Dartford River Crossing includes some of the most congested stretches of motorway in the country and we have a responsibility to local people to ensure that any scheme of this size does not make that situation any worse."

He added: "In terms of neighbourliness, I think it is also important that LRCH look again at the impact of their work and timescale on a number of local businesses who are trading from locations within their proposed boundary.

"These businesses have every bit as much right to be able to plan for the future as LRCH and they are in need of support and assistance. I shall be taking up their situation with LRCH once again."

However, he insisted a solution "can, and should be found."