Universal theme park details revealed as Bedford prepares for 8.5m visitors ...Middle East

The Government has struck a deal to bring Europe’s first Universal theme park to Bedfordshire, which includes infrastructure upgrades and a fast-tracked planning process.

The 476-acre resort, hailed a “fabulous opportunity” by one local councillor, is set to open in 2031 and attract 8.5m visitors in its first year.

Universal expects the park, which will feature blockbuster rides, a 500-room hotel and a retail and entertainment complex, to generate nearly £50bn for the UK economy by 2055.

The Government has promised a major investment in infrastructure and transport around the site to support the project.

The Prime Minister hailed the agreement brokered between the American company, the Government and the local council, which comes at a time of economic turmoil following tariffs imposed by the US on goods coming from the UK.

Sir Keir Starmer said: “It’s going to put Bedford on the map for millions of people – film lovers, people coming here for fun, people building their careers here.

“You know, people said to me, Government will be a roller-coaster, and I can testify to that.

“I don’t think this is quite what they meant. But look, this is our plan for change in action, bringing investment, bringing opportunity, growth, jobs, and, of course, joy to Britain.”

He added: “And of course, it will boost our world-class creative industries… And we are world class. We punch well above our weight.”

He said there were “tough days” in Government but launching the theme park development was “completely different”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the deal with Universal was “a real sign of confidence in the local economy and in the national economy”.

She said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to make this announcement today, along with the amazing theme park, comes so much more.

“£50bn benefit to the UK economy, 28,000 jobs in a whole range of sectors – obviously construction, that’s going to be a massive part of it in the next few years, but also then retail, hospitality, creative industries, performing arts – things that this country is brilliant at.”

Marc Frost, a Conservative councillor for Wixams and Wilstead ward on Bedford Borough Council, called it a “fabulous opportunity for Bedford and the UK”.

He said: “We’ve been working on it for a couple of years now and the mayor has been pushing to get this decisive answer.

“We’re all very excited. We’re bringing jobs, bringing opportunity, and it’ll be a wonderful tourist destination.”

He said the Government has agreed to expand the size of Wixhams railway station from two to four lines and have it open 24 hours a day, which was one of Universal’s key requests.

Work on the station began last year and was scheduled to be completed in 2026, but this is expected to be delayed.

The Government has also agreed to use a special development order to expedite the planning process.

The process involves the Housing Secretary approving a development instead of the relevant local authority, and is not typically used for theme parks.

The i Paper previously reported that the tax breaks discussed included concessions on the VAT paid on entrance tickets, corporation tax, and business rates, but it is not yet clear whether the Government has agreed to any more financial incentives.

Lee Melville, chair of Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council, said it was “amazing news”.

He said: “It’s taken a bit longer to get the news than we would have liked, but we’re delighted that it’s finally being confirmed. It’s all positives, really.

“We’ve engaged very well with the Universal officials. They’ve listened very carefully to the concerns that we had and that people living in the community have had.”

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As part of the theme park deal, the nearby A421 will have a new slip road and improvements made, and “significant” improvements will be made to Junction 13 on the M1, he added.

Both Universal and local residents had raised concerns about traffic and pushed for these upgrades as part of the deal struck with the Government.

Mr Melville added: “It’s the regeneration that not just the area, but the UK needed.

“It’s really going to improve employment opportunities, housing, and obviously it’s going to put Kempson Hardwick and Stewartby on the map, and Bedford on the map.

“Nobody had heard of Kempston Hardwick before, and everybody will know Kempston Hardwick now. It’s just the uplift that we needed. We didn’t need more housebuilding – we needed something else.”

Local resident Margaret Wilson, 85, told the PA news agency: “I wouldn’t go, but I have two grandsons, 19 and 16. They might go.

“At the moment, everything is cost-effective. It will be four years until anything is built. Who knows what will happen in four years?”

She added: “Before Covid, Bedford was a market town. It’s not where it used to be.

“This won’t bring it back to the same place as before, but it will be good for the area.”

Jagdeep Singh, a 36-year-old business change analyst from Kempton, said: “I think it’s going to bring a lot of people to our town, it’s going to drive our businesses and bring jobs for people.

“We have been talking about renting out property in the area.”

But he added that the sheer numbers of visitors could have a negative impact.

Mr Singh said: “I worried a bit about traffic on the bypass, what’s going to happen to our hospitals if there’s any accidents.”

The Prime Minister welcomed Mike Cavanagh, the president of Universal’s parent company Comcast Corporation, to Downing Street to mark the announcement.

He was shown a computer-generated image of the park, complete with rides, themed areas and a water show.

Universal theme parks have included attractions linked to its movie franchises and blockbusters, such as Minions, ET, Jurassic Park, Fast & Furious, Kung Fu Panda and Shrek.

Mr Cavanagh said: “We could not be more excited to take this very important step in our plan to create and deliver an incredible Universal theme park and resort in the heart of the United Kingdom, which complements our growing US-based parks business by expanding our global footprint to Europe.”

The firm has five entertainment and resort complexes around the world – two in the US and others in Beijing, Osaka and Singapore.

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