The planned £5 billion Universal Studios resort in Bedfordshire will create environmental noise challenges for the region, according to acoustic consultancy Cass Allen.
New transport infrastructure, hotels, housing and commercial developments are expected to emerge alongside the proposed scheme.
While much of the public attention has focused on jobs, investment and tourism, the consultancy says acoustics will become an increasingly important part of the planning process.
Read: Councillors fear tourism tax could drive Universal visitors away
The Universal United Kingdom Resort, which is due to open in 2031, is expected to attract around 8.5 million visitors annually and create almost 20,000 construction jobs.
For Cass Allen, the project represents a catalyst for widespread residential, commercial and transport growth across Bedfordshire.
Sam Bryant, director at Cass Allen, said: “The Universal resort represents an extraordinary opportunity for Bedfordshire.
“Projects of this scale inevitably generate enormous economic benefits, but they also create significant environmental challenges.
“Noise is often one of the least visible issues during the planning process, yet it has a direct impact on quality of life, planning approval and the long-term success of major developments.”
Road and rail noise
Transport is expected to become one of the biggest considerations.
Government estimates suggest the resort will welcome around 8.5 million visitors every year, supported by substantial investment in new road and rail infrastructure.
Increased traffic volumes, altered traffic patterns and expanded rail services will require detailed acoustic assessment to protect Bedfordians and comply with national planning policy.
The consultancy says that destination developments typically act as catalysts for secondary investment, with new hotels, restaurants and residential neighbourhoods expected to emerge.
Bryant added: “As developments like this grow, they rarely exist in isolation.
“They stimulate entirely new communities around them. Hotels need to sit alongside transport corridors. New housing often needs to be delivered close to expanding commercial areas.
“Mixed-use developments become increasingly common. Successfully balancing these competing land uses depends heavily on good acoustic design from the very beginning.”
Developers are increasingly expected to demonstrate that potential noise impacts have been properly assessed and mitigated before projects receive planning approval.
Cass Allen expects demand for specialist acoustic consultancy to grow across Bedfordshire as developers respond to the opportunities created by the investment.
Environmental consideration
Bryant said: “The resort itself is obviously a landmark project.
“But perhaps its greatest legacy will be the wave of development that follows.
“Every new residential scheme, hotel, logistics hub, office development and transport improvement will require careful environmental consideration.
“Acoustic design has an important role to play in ensuring growth enhances communities rather than detracts from them.
“The earlier acoustics are considered within the design process, the greater the opportunity to create places that are not only commercially successful, but enjoyable places to live, work and visit.”
With enabling works already underway and construction gathering pace, the development is expected to reshape the region for decades to come.
Acoustic performance is set to become an essential factor alongside architectural design, transport planning and sustainability in delivering future developments.
We approached Universal Studios Great Britain for their thoughts on the topic, but they declined to comment.
