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London Entertainment Resort: All Discussion

There are no words. I just typed two posts and deleted them.

This project is beyond belief! I wholeheartedly agree that this feels like a shady cover for something much deeper.

I’m “seriously considering” buying a hat which I’ll have to eat when I visit the opening day of the London Resort...
 
This screams migrant workforce, dodgy conditions, big private development of luxury houses and maybe an entertainment centre. The whole cruise ship accomodation seems....off. In theory yes a good idea but seems a very expensive way of housing the workforce considering the constant operation of the thing (mind you, being a fitter on it would be a sweet gig)
 
It’s certainly an... interesting idea, and not something I would have expected, I’ll admit. I can’t imagine how much it must be costing; I bet cruise ships aren’t cheap to hire.

Might it be a way to win over the locals in the planning process? Having the construction crew living elsewhere would ease pressure on the area while the resort is built, and I know that pressure on local resources is one of the key hurdles that is turning the locals against it.
 
Sazzle said:
There are no words. I just typed two posts and deleted them.

This project is beyond belief! I wholeheartedly agree that this feels like a shady cover for something much deeper.

I’m “seriously considering” buying a hat which I’ll have to eat when I visit the opening day of the London Resort...
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It's basic economics. Nobody invests 5bn into this Industry who is a sensible business man or woman. There's 100's of ways to get a quicker, easier and better return on your money.

This is either a vanity project or a sweetener for something else or it's just a waste of everyone's time.
 
Matt N said:
It’s certainly an... interesting idea, and not something I would have expected, I’ll admit. I can’t imagine how much it must be costing; I bet cruise ships aren’t cheap to hire.
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I bet right now you can pick up an old cruise ship for next to nothing, then sell it in a few years when hopefully people will be able to use them as intended again. Its probably a very cost effective way if housing a large workforce.
 
Probably just get ones the cruise company no longer wants and are planning to send to the scrap yard. Of all the ideas for this so far this is by far the most sensible.
 
I’m confused; why does the fact that they’re housing their construction workers in cruise ships suddenly make everyone think it’s a money laundering scheme?

Out of interest, what is it that makes everyone think this project is a money laundering scheme? The people involved with it have very deep experience in the theme park/visitor attraction industry (PY Gerbeau, for example, has previously turned around Disneyland Paris and the Millennium Dome), so I think they’re in this for real and genuinely motivated to build a great theme park resort.

They also have the necessary investment to proceed with the project in its entirety, so they aren’t requesting any more money as far as I can see. They’ve made no indication that they need any more money; the project is fully funded, according to them.
 
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It just seems so dodgy for me personally I think the red flags went up soon as they mentioned someone apparently is willing to invest 5bn but don’t want to be named. The more I see of this the more unrealistic it becomes and it just never ends. I still honestly think the site will be used not for a theme park but for a lot of ‘luxury’ housing that’s what investors want these days. The days of theme parks being popular in the uk is long gone this just shows how much of risk it is in the long term for investors.
 
Matt N said:
I’m confused; why does the fact that they’re housing their construction workers in cruise ships suddenly make everyone think it’s a money laundering scheme?

Out of interest, what is it that makes everyone think this project is a money laundering scheme? The people involved with it have very deep experience in the theme park/visitor attraction industry (PY Gerbeau, for example, has previously turned around Disneyland Paris and the Millennium Dome), so I think they’re in this for real and genuinely motivated to build a great theme park resort.

They also have the necessary investment to proceed with the project in its entirety, so they aren’t requesting any more money as far as I can see. They’ve made no indication that they need any more money; the project is fully funded, according to them.
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Because there's not that much money to be made in theme parks. Certainly not on investments of upwards of 4bn which this will be come the end if it ever happens.

Disneyland Paris post profits of 22m in a good year and this place won't even do half of that for years and years and may never ever match it. How long would it take to even break even from 4bn? Several timetimes. That's not good business sense is it?

There's definitely a whole other side to this that we don't see.
 
Disneyland Paris posts 22 million profits in a good year...following two baleouts of one and two billion in the last decade.
So in truth, Disney Paris makes no real profits at all.
 
rob666 said:
Disneyland Paris posts 22 million profits in a good year...following two baleouts of one and two billion in the last decade.
So in truth, Disney Paris makes no real profits at all.
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Exactly.

And that's the world's most loved Brand in the industry. Even with strong IP's they have struggled.

Investing 5bn into this industry today makes zero sense.
 
Benjsh said:
Exactly.

And that's the world's most loved Brand in the industry. Even with strong IP's they have struggled.

Investing 5bn into this industry today makes zero sense.
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Remember it's not just a theme park but other leisure including retail, stadium and conferencing facilities. I still think the investment makes no financial sense but there's a broader range of business to profit from than the themepark itself.
 
pluk said:
Remember it's not just a theme park but other leisure including retail, stadium and conferencing facilities. I still think the investment makes no financial sense but there's a broader range of business to profit from than the themepark itself.
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Of course but there's nowhere near the amount to justify the money it would take to build it all is the point.

And I don't believe they will get it all built for under 5 to 6bn. Wembley stadium alone cost over 1bn by the end let's not forget.
 
Skyscraper said:
Now, this could derail the project completely if it's true...

A wildlife protection group has lodged an application for the proposed site to be recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to a rare species of jumping spider that is found in only one other location in the UK. This would prohibit any development on the site that would potentially harm the species. The decision is due in early 2021.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/building-uks-25bn-disney-style-23384179.amp
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And now we have a decision, Natural England have designated the site as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Here is London Resort's response:

 
Buster11 said:
The link doesn’t work, what does it say?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Their statement is as follows:

PY Gerbeau's response to the designation of SSSI by Natural England to an area, substantially larger than that proposed by The London Resort:

“The challenges presented by the site are not unusual for major brownfield reclamations. The project will of course continue, and this is just another issue to address in the long history of this project”, commented PY Gerbeau, CEO, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH).

“Sustainability is a green thread throughout the London Resort proposals and we’re very proud of that”, commented PY Gerbeau, CEO, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH). “We have demonstrated, across thousands of pages within our application, our vision to deliver a net gain in biodiversity and our commitment to enhancing and managing habitats. An investment that runs into millions because we believe in sustainability and in our role as custodians of the environment.

“We have shown how we plan to transform a contaminated, former industrial site, through this exceptional, once in a lifetime opportunity. An opportunity which will bring thousands of jobs, generate substantial economic growth and boost tourism with the UK’s first, world class theme park resort.

“No one knows more about the land than us because we have been surveying and monitoring it since 2012. We are the ones who have found and identified every species. We have shared our reports and we are working closely with Natural England to identify the right ecological solutions to deliver this grand project.

“The London Resort looks forward to the examination, led by the Planning Inspectorate and the decision, of the Secretary of State.”

It should also be noted that the designation is the beginning of a a 4-month period in which "anyone can make representations or object to the notification. If all objections are resolved or none are submitted, the designation will be confirmed. If there are unresolved objections the Natural England Board will hear all of these; they must then decide whether to confirm the designation (with or without reductions). If the notification is not confirmed within 9 months of the date of notification, the notification falls".
 
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