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Universal expects the attraction to generate nearly £50 billion for the UK economy by 2055 with 8.5 million visitors in its first year The company’s multi-billion-pound investment will “see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe firmly putting the county on the global stage,” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said According to Universal Destinations and Experiences, about 80 per cent of new jobs created will be filled by people from Bedfordshire and the surrounding regions. The theme park is expected to generate employment in tourism, construction and even the AI sector Although Spain’s PortAventura resort was previously co-branded with Universal this new UK site is set to become the first Universal theme park in Europe developed entirely from scratch Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026 after a detailed planning proposal is submitted to the Government There are five Universal theme parks worldwide: Orlando, Hollywood, Japan, Beijing and Singapore. Universal’s Hollywood resort attracted 9.66 million visitors in 2023, while the Orlando site welcomed 9.75 million, according to the Theme Index Report. Universal Destinations & Experiences has proposed a theme park Universal has already purchased 476 acres of land at the former brickworks site and could acquire more to expand the project to around 700 acres allowing for improved transport links and infrastructure While Universal says it’s “still too early” to confirm which rides and attractions will feature at the UK park some clues come from its most recent resort in Beijing This features rides such as the Transformers Megabase Decepticoaster the Minions-themed Loop-Dee Doop-Dee and the Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness Visitors can likely expect attractions inspired by renowned Universal franchises such as Jurassic Park Universal has also announced plans to build a new railway station on the East West Rail railway line near the resort and upgrade Wixams station There are also proposals to construct dedicated slip roads for the A421 which was affected by flooding last October The large-scale development has not yet received planning permission but has garnered strong backing from local government officials UK's first Universal theme park and resort fact box The announcement follows approval last week from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to expand the nearby London Luton Airport. Universal has previously described the Bedford site as “an ideal location with convenient, fast rail links to London and London Luton Airport”. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy credited the Government’s commitment to improving local transport infrastructure as a key reason the deal could progress Nearby communities have warmly received the proposals. Universal said 92 per cent of more than 6,000 residents and organisations surveyed supported the plans. 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 "We appreciate the leadership and support of Prime Minister Keir Starmer Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and their teams as we work together to create and deliver a fantastic new landmark destination." Plan to build Universal Studios resort near London ‘ongoing’ Brexit to blame for London suffering biggest exodus of millionaires in the world UK braced as more US tariffs kick in amid fears of widespread economic damage VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital joined members of the Universal Destinations and Experiences team at their proposed theme park site in Kempston Hardwick this week reiterating that Bedford Borough was “open for business” SVP of External Affairs from Universal Destinations and Experiences that Bedford Borough was committed to delivering “tangible private sector business investment” in the area And while we await confirmation that the project is given the green light a spokesperson for Universal Destinations and Experiences said: “Universal confirmed it is continuing to engage with local stakeholders like the Mayor and Bedford Borough Council as part of our feasibility and due diligence efforts.” In an email sent to media this afternoon (Tuesday) “I was delighted to visit with members of the Universal Destinations and Experiences team at their site in Kempston Hardwick “While they are still exploring the feasibility of bringing a potential theme park and resort experience here it was great to meet with their team once again as they continue engaging with our local community.” He said he has been speaking to residents and organisations in the area and “one thing is clear – that a possible Universal Theme Park and Resort [would be] transformational for our area “It represents a significant opportunity for job creation and tourism promotion all with a benefit to local businesses and further private sector business investment After my conversations with Universal and others I believe it can provide jobs and exciting career and business opportunities for Bedford Borough residents for generations to come.” He concluded by saying that the council was working in partnership with central Government and other partners to ensure local transport and investment in infrastructure is a top priority as part of the project “I’ll continue to keep residents updated on this process.” A major police operation carried out in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday) has resulted in six arrests in connection with a series of theft and drug offences Bedfordshire Police executed eight search warrants at addresses in Ampthill Road linked to offences in Bedfordshire and other areas in the eastern region More than 100 officers were involved in the operation alongside partner agencies including British Transport Police Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service officers also located suspected cannabis plants all in their 20s and 30s and from Kempston Hardwick All six remain in police custody for questioning while police continue to carry out searches said: “We take all forms of theft and burglary extremely seriously and will not tolerate this in our communities “Today’s operation was carried out in a bid to obtain evidence over a series of offences and protect our communities from harm “We are committed to bringing offenders to justice and ensuring victims get the support they need I would always encourage people to come forward – this is crucial if we are to run the kind of enforcement action we have seen today.” Two further people have also been arrested at a separate location in Bedford as well as in Milton Keynes respectively Anyone with any information about burglary, theft or vehicle crime is asked to report it via beds.police.uk/ro/report You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or through crimestoppers-uk.org which was set up to update Bedfordians about a possible Universal Studios theme park in Kempston Hardwick near Bedford has been updated today (Friday) with details that set out how they plan to begin engaging with local people the Bedford Independent exclusively confirmed that Universal Destinations & Experiences were at the very early stages of looking into a UK theme park in the area Read: Breaking news: Universal Studios confirm they are planning a theme park in Bedford Borough Later that month, UniversalUKProject.co.uk was launched with the promise it would be used to update people with an interest in the plans for a UK-based Universal Theme Park Read: Universal Studios says “Hello, Bedford” with new website dedicated to theme park plan Speaking to the Bedford Independent about the update to the website which happened at 1pm this afternoon a spokesperson for Universal Destinations & Experiences made clear that this update does not represent a “greenlight” for the project represent an important continuation of our feasibility and due diligence work,” they said the period will allow us to share early thinking on our plans and help us to secure feedback from the local communities there will be two local public exhibition events on 13 and 16 April “Today marks the start of a public engagement period on our potential theme park and resort experience in Bedford “This represents the next step in our ongoing due diligence and feasibility work and is an opportunity for us to share early thinking on our plans and secure feedback “While it will still be some time before we decide whether or not we proceed we look forward to further engaging with the community on this potential development.” MP Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour) has welcomed the progress on the project after months of discussions with the company “I am pleased that after months of confidential discussions on the project and progress on this exciting development we are now in a position to release some information into the public domain,” he said “I have been clear from the start with Universal that it is important that to keep public support they are as transparent as possible and I am pleased that at such an early stage of the project public engagement has begun “I would encourage everyone to share their views “I will continue to work with Universal to bring this exciting project to Bedfordshire “Securing investment from Universal will be vital to securing Bedford and Kempston’s future and I will continue to do all I can to ensure that this project not only goes ahead but is of maximum benefit to our towns.” Tom Wootton (Conservative) also welcomed the update and encouraged Bedfordians to take part “We are pleased to hear the latest news that Universal will hold a period of public engagement welcoming feedback from our local communities businesses and other stakeholders to prepare for a planning application submission and to secure the necessary planning approvals “We greatly recommend participation throughout the period of public engagement encouraging residents to make their voices heard prior to its close on Friday 3 May “I’m excited about the plans for a potential Universal Theme Park and resort experience here in Bedford given its transformative impact for our area.” Update: We updated this story at 1:12pm to add a quote from the Mayor of Bedford Borough Essential works to rebuild part of the B530 near Kempston Hardwick are scheduled next week (commencing 14 September) after part of the road began to sink in 2018 cracks appeared in the road on the B530 between the Interchange Retail Park and Kempston Hardwick the road had become too dangerous for normal use A temporary speed limit was put in place and short-term works were carried out to ensure the road could continue to be safely used The much-needed repair works will include replacement of sections of the road drainage system together with resurfacing of the road To ensure the repairs are a permanent solution the most badly affected stretch near Kempston Hardwick will be completely dug out and rebuilt The whole stretch of road between just south of the A421 bridge and Kempston Hardwick will be resurfaced the drainage system along the entire length of the road from the Interchange Retail Park and Kempston Hardwick will be cleaned and much of it replaced to make the system more resilient for the future The works – starting week commencing Monday 14 September – are expected to be complete by early December the road will have temporary traffic lights to allow vehicles through but when the full rebuild starts in early October the road will be fully closed There will be a signed diversion in place via Kempston “Similarly to the A6 past Wilstead which we rebuilt recently this stretch of road has come to the end of its life and is in critical need of replacing we are expecting these works take much less time and to be completed by early December “We are doing these works with a view to the future and ensuring that the structure of this road lasts for the long term *warning: some readers may find the images distressing* The RSPCA has appealed to the public for information after a dead Chihuahua puppy was found on the side of a road in Bedford Borough A member of the public made the grisly discovery at around midday on Monday (24 February) in Manor Road The unchipped female puppy’s body was wrapped in a greyish cream blanket and a black bin bag with a supermarket shopping basket placed upside down to cover her “This must have been a very distressing discovery for the member of the public who found this poor puppy and took her to the vets “An examination at the vets showed that the young Chihuahua had lots of abdominal bruising and a possible broken neck “We are very keen to find out what happened to this poor dog and how her body came to be dumped in this way the circumstances of the dog’s death are unclear but her physical injuries do not appear to be consistent with a road traffic accident “I am appealing for anyone who might have information which could help with our enquiries to please contact us on the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.” Bedfordshire Police are piecing together the events that led to a road incident that took place yesterday (Sunday) morning in which a motorcyclist was fatally injured a blue and white Honda motorcycle was involved in a single-vehicle collision on Woburn Road and a woman in her 20s was taken to Addenbrookes hospital with severe head injuries Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit are currently investigating the circumstances of the collision dash cam footage or who saw the vehicle before the collision to get in touch “It’s always sad when someone loses their life on our roads Our thoughts are with the victim’s family at this time and we have specialist officers supporting them “If you were in the area at this time and saw the blue and white Honda motorcycle Your information could be vital to our investigation Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Bedfordshire Police via its online reporting tool A £1.5 million programme to strengthen a railway bridge in Kempston Hardwick Bedfordshire (pictured) will get underway this month to improve reliability for passengers Network Rail engineers will repair and strengthen the steel girders bridge deck and improve drainage and guttering on the structure which carries the Midland Main Line over the B530 Ampthill Road Reinforcing this important bridge which millions of rail passengers rely on each year when travelling between Luton and Bedford and further afield on time journeys and mean that less maintenance work is needed for the next decade the B530 Ampthill Road will be closed to keep drivers and pedestrians safe on: The work will also have an impact on rail services in the area - more details will follow nearer the time to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Police are appealing for help to find a missing pensioner last seen in Kempston Hardwick at 10am this morning (Tuesday) Essential repair works to the B530 will resume tomorrow (Thursday) after the road closure was temporarily suspended The stretch of the B530 near Kempston Hardwick had been closed on 14 September to allow much-needed repairs to the road an emergency closure of Ampthill Road due to repairs to Cow Bridge meant that traffic attempting to leave the Interchange Retail Park was at gridlock Read: Gridlock at Interchange Retail Park as B530 roadworks cause traffic chaos the B530 was reopened while Ampthill Road was closed Bedford Borough Council confirmed that the B530 road closure would resume on Thursday morning “The B530 will be closed from tomorrow “The closure is necessary to enable vital repairs to this road to be complete These works include digging out and rebuilding a stretch of the road near Kempston Hardwick and resurfacing the whole road between just south of the A421 bridge and Kempston Hardwick “These works are expected to be complete in early December.” we're happy to send you some reminders Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications Home> Entertainment Universal Destinations and Experiences is still 'exploring' the idea of building a theme park and resort in the UK The US-based company behind Universal Studios theme parks made the shock announcement last December that they have purchased 476-acres of land in Kempston Hardwick with the hopes of turning it into a major attraction A spokeswoman for Universal Destinations and Experiences said at the time: "We recently acquired land in Bedford and are at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site "It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community." In a further statement, the company also said that 'the UK is an attractive place for a potential project' and transportation infrastructure with close proximity to other parts of Europe," they added Meanwhile, Tom Wootton, the elected mayor of Bedford Borough Council explained that the planning is still in its 'early' stages "The suggestion of a major business investment is of course positive nevertheless these are early days and much detailed work is required before any decisions are made," he said "We very much welcome and are excited by the interest from Universal and the immense potential for it to be transformative for the borough "We're committed to ensure that any plans align with the best interests of our residents." ahead of submitting a formal planning application Universal will hold two exhibition events for local businesses and residents as well as inviting people to do an online survey This public engagement period will last until 3 May and means a final decision on the theme park is yet to be made said: "I have been clear from the start with Universal that it is important that to keep public support and I am pleased that at such an early stage of the project public engagement has begun." The first public exhibition is scheduled to take place at Kimberley College in Stewartby on 13 April while a second event will take place at Bedford College on 16 April Currently, the beloved theme park has sites in the US And Florida - which is home to one of the flagship studios - has some of the most famous rides in the world Fans will hope to see some of these Florida rides in the UK: Universal says the ride puts you 'beneath a massive fire-breathing dragon and journey deep underground on this multi-dimensional thrill ride' "As you navigate perilous subterranean vaults, you'll encounter Harry, Ron and Hermione. But you'll have to evade the wrath of villains Voldemort trolls and other creatures that stand between you and a safe return to Diagon Alley," reads the ride description "Grab a seat on an indoor simulated rollercoaster ride, where you’ll careen and crash through the park with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie in an over-the-top non-stop exhilarating adventure Keep an eye out for cameos from some of Springfield’s fan-favourite characters as you adventure through the town," Universal's website says "Board your N*E*S*T* vehicle and join Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in an ultra-immersive thrill ride that blurs the line between fiction and reality Fight to keep the AllSpark out of Megatron's hands in an explosive battle between the Autobots and Decepticons," reads Universal's description The exciting mission statement for this one prepares you for an 'epidemic of aliens in New York' Thrill-seekers are told to 'use your laser gun to zap those little suckers and rack up points before they zap back at you sending your car spinning out of control' Topics: Universal Pictures, UK News, Theme Park InstagramXThreadsSnapchatTikTokYouTubeLAD Entertainment