Universal to build its first Europe theme park in the UK
The multi-billion pound project will be sited in Bedford, a town north of London
[LONDON] Universal will build its first European theme park in Britain, said Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday (Apr 9), unveiling a mega deal which could create thousands of jobs and attract millions of tourists.
“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,” Starmer said in a statement, referring to the English market town north of London.
No precise figures were given for the accord, which was struck with US communications giant Comcast, which owns Universal, after years of discussions with UK leaders.
There are currently five Universal theme parks around the globe. The first was opened in 1964 in Hollywood, based around the original film studios, followed later by a park in Orlando in Florida. Three others are in Asia – in Beijing, Osaka and Singapore.
Visitors to Europe’s first Universal park could possibly enjoy rides and shows based around such beloved movie characters the ogre Shrek, the clumsy Minions, the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park and the popular world of boy magician Harry Potter.
The new park could create some 28,000 jobs, including 20,000 during construction, and represent a £50 billion (S$86.6 billion) boost to the UK economy by 2055, Starmer’s office said in a statement. Some 80 per cent of the employees would come from the local area.
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An estimated 8.5 million people would visit in its first year planned for 2031, making it the largest attraction in the UK.
“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,” said Comcast president Mike Cavanagh.
In 2023, Comcast bought a 200-hectare site of a former brickworks, south of Bedford, some 80 km north of London.
Universal has said it would work with local colleges and universities to train the next generation of hospitality workers, with apprenticeships and internships.
‘Biggest blockbusters’
The area is linked by a train ride of about an hour from St Pancras station, which also houses the Eurostar serving links to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Among the plans for the new park are a 500-room hotel as well as rides, shows and a large dining complex.
The proposals will be subject to a planning decision from the UK’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Universal has not yet revealed details of the rides, but media reports have already indicated a possible attraction themed around Paddington Bear, which is now a major film franchise.
The whole attraction would be intended to rival Disneyland Paris, which said that it drew some 10.4 million visitors in 2023.
“From Wicked to Minions, Universal is behind some of the biggest blockbusters of recent years,” said Culture Minister Lisa Nandy.
She added the “landmark investment is fantastic news for our economy, for UK tourism and for the British public, who will be able to enjoy the biggest and best theme park in Europe at their doorstep”.
News of the deal comes just a few days after the UK government signed off on the expansion of nearby Luton Airport which serves various destinations across Europe.
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