Calls to protect wildlife haven amid theme park plan

Wildlife charities have written to the government calling for a nationally important wildlife haven in north Kent to be protected from the construction of a theme park.

The Swanscombe Peninsula has been the subject of a Development Consent Order since 2014 and was the proposed home to the London Resort theme park.

Campaigners have called on Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who also has responsibility for housing, communities and local government, to secure its future by revoking the planning status.

The government said it will "consider the issues raised in their letter and respond in due course”.

In 2021, Swanscombe Peninsula was declared as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the national importance of its geology, plant life and wildlife.

It is home to over 2,000 species of invertebrate and 82 species of breeding birds, making it one of the most important breeding bird sites in south-east England, according to the Buglife charity.

A planning application for the theme park was withdrawn in 2022.

In June the land was put up for sale and its co-owners, Anglo American International Holdings, say the "process is moving along well".

Jamie Robins, programmes manager at Buglife, said: “We have known for years that the site is a haven for wildlife.

"But the threat of a theme park continues to hang over it, leaving the community uncertain over the future of their much-loved green space, year after year.

"After a decade of uncertainty the time has come for the secretary of state to remove this unnecessary and damaging planning status, so that we can take the steps to save it."

The last government said in 2023 the environmental impact would be considered once an application had been submitted.

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