Universal Studios Great Britain

Before the development of the UK park, Universal Destinations & Experiences had twice attempted to establish a resort in Europe. The first, a planned park in Sénart, France, was cancelled due to the underperformance of Euro Disneyland.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Michael |date=14 April 1993 |title=MCA in talks to become Euro Disney neighbor |url=https://variety.com/1993/biz/news/mca-in-talks-to-become-euro-disney-neighbor-105883/ |access-date=29 July 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The second was the 1998 acquisition of PortAventura and later development of Universal Mediterranea in Salou, Spain, which the company sold in 2004.{{Cite web |last1=Hopewell |first1=John |last2=Geitz |first2=Christopher |date=20 June 2004 |title=U sells Port Aventura stake |url=https://variety.com/2004/biz/news/u-sells-port-aventura-stake-1117906749/ |access-date=29 July 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

In August 2023, Comcast acquired construction and development company Cloud Wing UK,{{cite web |title=Notification of Comcast Corporation as a person with significant control on 31 August 2023 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11099322/filing-history/MzQwMTczNDE0MWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Companies House}} including {{convert|476|acre|sqmi km2|1}} of land in Bedfordshire, approximately 45 minutes north of London.{{Cite journal |title=Information Pack (April 2024) |url=https://universalukproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/UniversalUKProject.InformationPack.April-2024.pdf |journal=Universal UK Project |pages=6}} In September 2023, the company registered the domain names UniversalStudiosGreatBritain.com and UniversalGreatBritain.com.{{Cite web|date=18 December 2023 |title='Universal Studios Great Britain' mooted |url=https://riderater.co.uk/11299/universal-studios-great-britain-mooted/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241231113112/https://riderater.co.uk/11299/universal-studios-great-britain-mooted |archive-date=31 December 2024 |access-date=9 April 2025 |language=en-GB}} The plans were officially announced on 19 December 2023,{{Cite web |title=Universal UK Project {{!}} |url=https://universalukproject.co.uk/ |access-date=29 July 2024 |language=en-GB}} and between April and May 2024 entered public consultation, receiving over 6,000 responses.{{cite news |last=Cunningham |first=Alice |date=26 June 2024 |title=Bedfordshire Universal Studios resort could open 365 days a year |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjjjw832d68o |access-date=12 March 2025 |work=BBC News}}

On 9 April 2025, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, confirmed that the government supported the project, with construction expected to start in 2026 and Universal confirming a planned 2031 opening (subject to planning approvals) and releasing the first official concept art.{{Cite news |date=9 April 2025 |title=Prime minister confirms new UK Universal theme park in Bedford that will open in 2031 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz95n2837vgo |access-date=9 April 2025 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408235045/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz95n2837vgo |url-status=live}} It is estimated the project could generate nearly £50 billion for the economy by 2055, including an estimated 28,000 jobs, and 8.5 million visitors in the first year.{{cite web |date=2025-04-09 |title=Multi-billion-pound investment secured as Universal theme park and resort set to be built in Bedford, bringing thousands of jobs |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/multi-billion-pound-investment-secured-as-universal-theme-park-and-resort-set-to-be-built-in-bedford-bringing-thousands-of-jobs |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=GOV.UK |archive-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409155550/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/multi-billion-pound-investment-secured-as-universal-theme-park-and-resort-set-to-be-built-in-bedford-bringing-thousands-of-jobs |url-status=live }}

{{maplink|frame=yes||text=Potential development area of theme park and resort|type=shape|id=Q128996431}}

The planned site is around {{convert|3|miles|0}} south of Bedford town centre. It is bordered by the A421 to the west, the planned East West Main Line to the north-east,{{efn|The section between {{rws|Bletchley}} (Milton Keynes) and Bedford, currently known as the Marston Vale line, is scheduled to become part of the East West main line, the new line between Oxford and Cambridge via Milton Keynes (for the West Coast Main Line) and {{rws|Tempsford}} (for the East Coast Main Line). See East West Rail.}} the Midland Main Line to the east, and Broadmead Road to the south, and comprises up to {{convert|700|acre}} of land, including {{convert|476|acre}} previously purchased.{{cite news |last=Fullbrook |first=Danny |date=30 January 2025 |title=Universal UK resort talks ongoing, says government |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd9r527jpeo |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=BBC News |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130075130/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd9r527jpeo |url-status=live}}

The plans are split into four "zones": the "Core Zone", where the theme park and hotel(s) are to be located; the adjacent "Lake Zone" (based on existing lakes formed by diggings at the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks), located north of the "Core Zone" and intended for mixed-use purposes (likely a Universal CityWalk); and two transport hubs dubbed the "East Gateway Zone" and the "West Gateway Zone".{{cite web |url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/universal-studios-uk-the-story-so-far/ |title=Universal Studios UK: The story so far |website=Bedford Independent |first=Paul |last=Hutchinson |date=21 February 2025 |access-date=28 March 2025 |archive-date=21 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221150130/https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/universal-studios-uk-the-story-so-far/ |url-status=live}}

The plans also include an expansion of the already under construction Wixams railway station, and a substantial new railway station on the East West line (to replace Kempston Hardwick railway station), as well as the redevelopment and expansion of roadways, for example through the addition of new slipways on the redeveloped A421 to cope with the added traffic brought by the park.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=James Bond, Paddington and Lord of the Rings set for Universal UK |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9344k7k95vo |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

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• {{Official website|https://universalukproject.co.uk/}}

{{Amusement parks in the United Kingdom}}

{{Universal Destinations & Experiences}}

{{NBCUniversal}}

Category:Planned Universal Destinations & Experiences theme parks

Category:Proposed buildings and structures in England

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