Universal’s proposed Bedfordshire theme park could generate nearly £50 billion for the UK economy during construction and the first 20 years of operations.
Plans for a theme park in the UK were confirmed by Universal in December 2023 after the company purchased a 476-acre parcel of land south of Bedford.
According to an economic impact analysis commissioned by Universal Destinations & Experiences, the net economic contribution of the planned project was forecast to be £35.1bn.
Up to a further £14.1bn was expected to be generated in extra taxes for the HM Treasury over the same period, the analysis suggests.
New year-round resort for UK
Construction would also create a total of 20,000 jobs, and the resort could create 8,000 new jobs once up and running.
Universal said it would expect the number of jobs to rise over time, and has made a commitment to pay the living wage to employees.
Universal believes the theme park “would be amongst the high-attended attractions in the UK, bringing millions of incremental international visitors”.
Page Thompson, president of new ventures at Universal Destinations & Experiences said: “A world-class theme park and resort from Universal has the potential to generate billions in economic benefit for the UK, by creating thousands of high-quality jobs and attracting millions of new visitors to the country.”
Universal recently undertook a period of public engagement for its proposed park, which could open 365 days a year. The company said 92 percent of the 6,000 people surveyed are supportive of its plans.
However, the company noted some concerns from locals, such as road and rail improvements, noise pollution and visual impact.
Universal currently operates theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando, and also in Japan, Beijing and Singapore. Universal Orlando will soon include a fourth gate, Epic Universe.
Images courtesy of Universal Destinations & Experiences
