A multi-billion-pound Universal theme park in Bedford has been approved and is set to open its doors to visitors in 2031.
Universal has announced that the theme park will be the UK’s largest attraction, drawing an estimated 8.5 million visitors in its opening year.
The park is projected to contribute around £50 billion to the UK economy by 2055.
The park, set to be the first Universal-branded theme park and resort in Europe, will be located within a vast 476-acre complex.
Universal Destinations & Experiences, a division of Comcast, has proposed plans that include themed lands with rides, attractions, and entertainment, along with a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining, and entertainment complex.
Universal’s five current theme parks, located in the US, China, Japan, and Singapore, showcase themed lands inspired by movie franchises such as Harry Potter, Minions, Shrek, and Trolls.
Mike Cavanagh, president of Comcast Corporation, 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.”
Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, added: “Bringing a world-class theme park and resort to the United Kingdom is a tremendous opportunity and is part of our strategy to introduce the Universal brand and experiences to new audiences around the globe. We appreciate the incredible support for our proposed project and look forward to bringing it to life in the years ahead.”
The construction of the park is expected to generate 20,000 jobs, with an additional 8,000 roles in hospitality and creative industries created for the grand opening.
Universal has pledged to collaborate with local colleges and universities to offer apprenticeships and internships, helping train the next generation of hospitality professionals to meet this demand.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Today (Tuesday 8 April) we closed the deal on a multi-billion-pound investment that will see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage.
“This is our plan for change in action, combining local and national growth with creating around 28,000 new jobs across sectors such as construction, AI, and tourism.”
The government has pledged significant infrastructure investment to support the project, with plans to expand Luton Airport already approved.
Richard Toomer, executive director of the Tourism Alliance, said: “The whole tourism ecosystem in Bedfordshire and far beyond will benefit from this new and exciting project. Visitors to the park will hopefully also get a chance to see our stunning historic houses, beautiful landscapes, amazing coastline, vibrant cities, and cultural sites, along with the world-class exhilarating rides and attractions they’ll experience at Universal.
“Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to get this important decision over the line.”
Detailed plans for the park, which will be built on the site of the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks, are still awaiting a planning decision from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.