American entertainment and production giant Universal and the UK government have announced that the first European Universal theme park will be built in the UK.
Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBC Universal, said it intends to build and operate the park in Bedford in the East of England, about an hour from London, pending planning consent approvals.
The development is proposed for the 476-acre site of the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks near Bedford. Universal bought the site in 2023.
It said the commitment had followed more than a year of feasibility, due diligence and close engagement with local and national stakeholders, as well as members of the local communities.
Universal's plans include an entertainment resort complex with a "world-class theme park with several themed lands featuring Universal’s distinct brand of immersive storytelling, thrilling rides, innovative attractions and exciting entertainment". Initial resort plans also include a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment complex. It will be the first Universal-branded theme park in the UK and Europe.
Universal is a major film production company that has famous theme parks in Orlando and Los Angeles in the US, as well as Osaka, Japan; Sentosa, Singapore; and Beijing, China.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Today 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."
Universal has an option to buy further land to take the development to 700 acres in size.
It estimates the park will be a major contributor to the creative arts and tourism industries, generating nearly £50 billion of economic benefit for the UK and creating thousands of jobs. At opening, the theme park would be one of the largest employers in the region, with approximately 80% of employees expected to come from Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, with many more communities benefiting from apprenticeships.
Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said in a statement: "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."