The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA) has said that it is pleased to welcome Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, to Bedford and the UK after the recent announcement of plans for the company’s first Universal brand theme park and resort in the United Kingdom.
BALPPA has over 300 members. It advocates for the interests of the UK’s commercial leisure parks, piers, zoos, visitor attractions, family entertainment, and indoor play centres and says it is looking forward to collaborating with Universal Destinations & Experiences, which is already a member.
See also: All 11 rides at Universal Epic Universe
A boost to the economy
Paul Kelly, chief executive of BALPPA, says:
“As an operator of world-class attractions, the Universal brand will fit in well to an established culture of fantastic visitor attractions who welcome millions of visitors every year across the UK. This is a great boost to the local and national economy.
“As established Members of BALPPA, we look forward to working even closer with the team at Universal Destinations and Experiences as they develop this world-leading attraction in the years to come.”
Universal’s vision for the world-class theme park features various themed areas showcasing its unique immersive storytelling, thrilling rides, innovative attractions, and captivating entertainment, all enhanced by state-of-the-art technology. The preliminary resort plan incorporates a hotel with 500 rooms, as well as retail, dining, and entertainment offerings.
The theme park, set to be one of Europe’s largest and most advanced, will create nearly 20,000 construction jobs and an additional 8,000 in the hospitality and creative sectors by 2031. It will generate local benefits, employing around 80% of individuals from the community and promoting growth in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor by revitalising infrastructure and providing job opportunities.
Universal expects the site to generate nearly £50 billion for the economy by 2055, drawing in 8.5 million visitors during its first year. The proposals remain subject to a planning decision from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
