The first formal meeting as part of the London Resort planning application process has been scheduled.

The long-awaited preliminary meeting which will allow the examination to start has now been fixed for March 29.

Planning inspectors will assess how the examination will run at the meeting rather than hearing any specific evidence and views on the proposals for the huge theme park plans on the Swanscombe Peninsula, near Dartford.

A letter announcing the meeting – which will be held virtually – was published today by Rynd Smith, lead panel member for the examining authority (ExA).

It follows weeks of delays and pushbacks with the Planning Inspectorate setting a deadline of March 15 for London Resort bosses to submit final evidence ahead of the meeting.

He said: "The purpose of the Preliminary Meeting is purely procedural, to enable views to be put to us about when and how the application should be examined.

"Stage 1 will be held on March 29 and 30 and will consider the question of when to examine the application in the light of recent and likely future progress by the applicant to address important and relevant issues and provide supporting information.

"It will support a decision on the timing of the examination.

"Stage 2 will be held on March 30 if required and would consider how to examine the application in circumstances where a decision on timing has been made and the application is proposed to enter examination commencing at the end of March 2022.

"In circumstances where the applicant is unable to provide evidence of the need for an extension of time until June or July 2022 and in the absence of adequate progress on matters argued to justify the extension or on other important and relevant matters, the ExA would close the preliminary meeting and commence examination of the application before it, with immediate effect.

"This approach would be taken in the interests of limiting the adverse effects of further delay.

"In circumstances where the applicant is able to provide evidence of the need for an extension and adequate progress on matters argued to justify the extension of time until June or July 2022 and on other important and relevant matters, consideration would be given to the amount of time required to complete the necessary preparatory work.

"This could lead to agreement by the ExA that the commencement of the examination might be deferred.

"If this option is decided upon, then the preliminary meeting will be adjourned to a further date to be set, at which amended procedural arrangements would be discussed.

"In these circumstances we would write to you again in similar terms to this letter, enclosing a revised draft timetable.

"The merits or disadvantages of the application will only be considered once the examination itself starts."

Anyone wishing to follow the public meeting will be able to view a live stream via the Planning Inspectorate website.