In December 2023, Universal Destinations and Experience confirmed plans for a UK theme park in Bedfordshire, having bought 480 acres of land in Stewartby. Since then, Universal has assured Bedford locals that if the plan to build a theme park is approved, it will collaborate closely with nearby communities.
After verifying that it had purchased land close to Bedford, Universal Destinations & Experiences, a subsidiary of US corporation Comcast, sent letters to residents.
Universal’s John Reynolds said the company has “a strong track record of working together with local communities as we consider any new project…Engaging with the local community in Bedford, Kempston Hardwick, Stewartby, Wixams, Wootton, and elsewhere will be no different.
He reported that Universal was “encouraged by the positive nature of conversations” with the mayor and Bedford Borough Council, among other stakeholders.
Universal’s theme park business continues to grow
Universal currently operates US theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando, as well as parks in Japan, China and Singapore.
The move signifies a further development of Universal’s theme park operations, in addition to the two new parks currently under construction – Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, and Universal Epic Universe in Orlando. Plus, the operator will soon launch a year-round horror experience at Area15 in Las Vegas.
Earlier, a spokeswoman for the company told the BBC: “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.
The statement continued: “We are always looking at new locations around the world, including in Europe, and the UK is an attractive place for a potential project. The UK has a large population, creative industries, strong tourism, and transportation infrastructure with close proximity to other parts of Europe.”
Images courtesy of Universal.
