Plans for what has been described as Britain's answer to 'Disneyland' have taken a massive leap forward.
The £3.5bn London Resort, based in Swanscombe near Dartford, has this week entered a pre-procurement phase, Kent Live reports.
The massive complex would become the largest theme park resort to be built in Europe since the opening of Disneyland Paris.
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If plans go ahead, the park could include the massive theme park, hotel complex, convention centre, water park and space for a second theme park planned to open after the first one.
The plan has taken a significant step forward by entering the current phase after years of setbacks, meaning developers are looking for potential suppliers to register their interest in an online form.
It follows news in January that the plans, detailed across hundreds of separate documents, had been accepted for full examination by the Government.
Reports have recently surfaced about the type of rides and themes that will feature and plans reveal the scale of the buildings and massive infrastructure proposed, as illustrated below.
The group behind the ambitious scheme say this presents a huge opportunity for "a wide range of local, regional and national businesses" and the park could generate £50bn of gross economic activity (GVA) for the UK in its first 25 years.
The London Resort's developers say its economic impact could match that of Disneyland Paris, which added around EUR68bn to the French economy in the 25 years since opening.
Independent analysis estimates there would be 6.5m visitors to The London Resort in 2025, growing to 12.5m visitors by 2038.
If theme parks continue to grow at their 10 year growth rate, it could mean The London Resort would rank as the largest theme park in Europe.
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Tim Aker, Development Manager for the Kent and Medway Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: "The London Resort is a fantastic opportunity for small businesses in the Southeast.
"This is a chance for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) to be part of the supply chain and take advantage of the economic benefits this project will bring to the region.
"At a time when the country needs investment, this will have positive effects on the local and wider economy.
"We encourage SMEs to register and see what part they can play in this exciting development."
It's estimated that 48,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs will be be created by the London Resort by 2038.
The developers say 50% of those jobs will come from local communities of Dartford, Gravesham and Thurrock.
"Businesses of all shapes and sizes have a critical role to play in this unique project," said Andy Martin, Strategy and Communications Director for the London Resort.
"The Register of Interest will help us understand more about the type and size of businesses that are interested in becoming a supplier."
