This means that it will go through the Planning Inspectorate for approval rather than the local council.
London Resort Company Holdings put in an application for its London Paramount project at Swanscombe peninsular, near Ebbsfleet international station, to be treated as a development of national significance for which development consent is required under section 35 of the Planning Act 2008.
This has now been accepted by the secretary of state at the Department of Communities & Local Government.
There will now be a three month period of pre-examination representations. The Planning Inspectorate then has six months to carry out its examination and a further three months to deliver its report to the secretary of state. The final decision for the government on whether to approval or turn down the plans is supposed to come no later than three months after that – which means August 2015.
Backers of the project include Development Securities and international contractor Brookfield Multiplex, as well as cement company Lafarge, which owns the 353ha brownfield site.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
