Plans for a £600 million historical theme park less than an hour from London by train have moved an inch forward after the French company behind the proposals submitted a scoping document to a local authority, with the prospect of a planning application later this summer. Puy du Fou is a historical theme park in Les Epesses, in western France, which celebrates 20 eras of French history from the Roman period through to the modern day.
The park has no rides but is filled with painstakingly reconstructed buildings, from medieval villages to a Roman Colosseums, with immersive experiences and re-enactments – including knightly jousts and Roman charioteers – and other dazzling performances, as well as a flurry of hotels and restaurants. Puy du Fou has one other site, Puy du Fou España – located on the outskirts of Toledo.
Now, Puy du Fou is looking for two other sites by 2030 and is eyeing up a location near Bicester, in Oxfordshire, as a preferred destination for its UK theme park – which would follow a similar format to Puy du Fou, with a focus on English history. Last month, a ‘scoping opinion’ request was submitted to Cherwell District Council by Savills on behalf of Puy du Fou, The Oxford Mail reports.
Puy du Fou is filled with immersive experiences and re-enactments – including knightly jousts and Roman charioteers – as well as other dazzling performances
(Image: FRANK PERRY/AFP via Getty Images))
The 142-document, submitted in December, identifies the land as north of the village of Bucknell, adjacent to the M40 near Bicester. It is understood the attraction could employ as many as 700 people and create 2,000 new jobs in hotels, suppliers and other local businesses during its first year in the UK. A train ride from Bicester is just 52 minutes from Marylebone Station, using Chiltern Railways, while a drive takes much longer at one hour and 45 minutes on the M40.
On its consultation website, Puy du Fou stated: “Puy du Fou has wanted to come to the UK for many years – to have the opportunity to help bring this country’s rich and colourful history to life.
“We spent considerable time searching the country for exactly the right site. This needed to be well located, with excellent transport links and within easy reach of London. We particularly wanted to find a location that was steeped in British history and near to other historical attractions.
“As we deliver beautifully landscaped and planted parks, we needed a location where we can plant thousands of trees. We also needed somewhere where we can enhance and build upon the existing habitat, where our vision can deliver a really positive ecological impact. Bucknell, near Bicester in Cherwell is the perfect location for Puy du Fou UK.
“Puy du Fou wants to create a new British cultural and historical attraction. A British Puy du Fou will be a place where visitors can walk in a beautiful wooded park with stunning landscaped gardens, where they can immerse themselves in British history with carefully curated period villages; and where they can experience a series of world-class live shows based on the country’s history, which will amaze the whole family.
“We want to deliver an exemplar in sustainable development, benefiting the local economy and environment.”
A spokesperson told the Oxford Mail that the company is months away from submitting a planning application, with the possibility of this in summer, adding: “There will be a further full public consultation event in the New Year to allow people to view and comment on the latest iteration of our plans.”
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