As the government confirmed its £1.3bn investment in Bedford Borough’s Universal United Kingdom Resort, chancellor Rachel Reeves and the tourism minister Stephanie Peacock visited the site yesterday (Wednesday).
And Bedford’s mayor, Tom Wootton, welcomed the start of work to build the UK’s biggest theme park, due to open in Bedford Borough in 2031.
The attraction will be one of the biggest of its kind in the world, alongside Universal Destinations & Experiences’ (UDX) other global destinations in Orlando, Beijing and Osaka, and is the company’s first European theme park and resort.
Read: Universal United Kingdom Resort confirmed to open in 2031, promising £50bn boost to economy
Alongside its £50bn boost to the UK economy over the next 20 years, the resort is projected to be a major contributor to the treasury, with an estimated £14bn in net additional returns for the government over that period.
Putting Bedford on the global map
In an opinion piece for the Bedford Independent, tourism minister Stephanie Peacock MP said the Universal development marked “the official start of a landmark project” that will place Bedford “firmly on the global entertainment map”.
She said the scheme was about more than “the excitement of a new theme park on their doorstep”, describing it as an opportunity to bring jobs, investment and long-term opportunities to local people.
Read: Opinion: “Local people sit at the heart of the Universal United Kingdom Resort development”
The Labour MP said local people would be “at the heart of this development”, with Universal aiming to recruit around 80% of its workforce from Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.
It would also develop apprenticeships, internships and career pathways. She added that the project would provide “a significant pipeline of work and investment” for local businesses and suppliers.
Legacy
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton (Conservative), described the project as an unprecedented opportunity for “our town, our borough, our people and our businesses”.
Speaking yesterday after the announcement, he said: “We’ve rolled out the red carpet for Universal, we’ve worked closely with them – so closely that they’ve opened offices in Borough Hall, with their staff working in the heart of Bedford.
“Now we’re starting to reap the benefits.”
He added that the legacy of the investment will be felt by generations of Bedfordians to come.
“It’s not just about making it an unmissable destination for visitors from the UK and across the world; it’s about creating apprenticeships, upskilling our existing workforce, and taking the range of opportunities for young people to a whole new level,” he said.
“Our region is already a hub for tech industries, and this multi-billion-pound investment will further create new Bedford-based jobs in creative industries, engineering, construction and hospitality.
“And Universal has a strong track record of working with local partners, the Council and wider stakeholders.”
Read: What education opportunities could Universal Studios bring to Bedford?
Meanwhile, the leader of the Bedford Liberal Democrats, cllr Henry Vann, said: “This is brilliant news for Bedford Borough and is a further vote of confidence in our local businesses and skills base.
“The Council must now step up their efforts to get a fair deal from MHCLG to support this work.”
Now, all that remains is to wait in anticipation to find out which rides, experiences, franchises, and IP will find their way into the Universal United Kingdom Resort.
As Bedford’s mayor, Tom Wootton, said: “The eyes of the world are now on Bedford Borough, and they’re seeing that it really is the centre of the universe.”
Update: This article is a refreshed version of an earlier article to reflect the inclusion of comments made in an opinion piece by the tourism minister Stephanie Peacock.
