Universal United Kingdom Resort: UK government to spend £1.3bn to support ‘spectacular’ Universal theme park in Bedford
The name and logo of the Universal theme park in the UK have been officially unveiled to coincide with the announcement of a significant £7.3bn investment in the project by the American company and the Government.
The new attraction will be known as Universal United Kingdom Resort. Activation work is currently ongoing at the Bedfordshire site and full construction is expected to begin in the near future.
Universal expects the ambitious site, the company’s first theme park and resort in Europe, to deliver economic benefits of around £50bn to the UK economy by 2055.
It is expected to attract millions of visitors each year, including more than one million foreign tourists, making the resort the UK’s most popular tourist attraction.
Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to investing over £5bn in the entertainment complex over the estimated five-year construction period; In addition, it has committed to investing an additional £1bn in capital during its first ten years of operation.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it was “one of the largest ever investments in the UK tourism sector” and would employ around 20,000 people during construction and a further 8,000 when the facility opens in 2031.
DCMS said the Government would support the project with a £1.3bn investment in regional and local community infrastructure to “ensure the park can operate successfully with improved transport links for local residents and visitors from the UK and abroad”.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited the site on Wednesday morning and met some of the first workers working on the project after being greeted by Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences.
Speaking to Mr Woodbury and Universal workers on her first visit to the site, Ms Reeves, wearing a hi-vis jacket and hard hat, said: “Thank you for choosing the UK.
“I know you can choose places in other parts of Europe.
“We are truly excited to have you here and are committed to working with you to achieve the great success that I know it will be.”
Mr Woodbury said the facility would bring “immersive storytelling, exciting attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK”.
He told Ms. Reeves that the company was “ready to break new ground and make this the most spectacular theme park in all of Europe, if not the world.”
Molly Murphy, chief executive of Universal Creative, said the company was “thrilled” by the Chancellor’s visit to mark the start of work on the site.
Asked why Bedfordshire was chosen, Ms Murphy told reporters: “We chose Bedfordshire because it is an exciting location.
“There is an incredible amount of creative talent in the UK that we can tap into and it is the perfect place to build the largest theme park in all of Europe, so we are very excited to be doing this.”
Following the site visit, Chancellor and Culture Minister Lisa Nandy welcomed Comcast Corporation chairman Brian Roberts and Mr Woodbury to 11 Downing Street to unveil the facility’s name and logo.
Mr Roberts said the company was looking forward to “creating a fantastic destination that supports the UK creative industries and brings joy to millions for generations to come”.
The Chancellor said: “This landmark investment at the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50bn of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in the construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.
“Our investment in transport and infrastructure means local people will benefit – improving connectivity, supporting our creative industries and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from around the world.”
As part of the £1.3 billion investment, the Government will provide a £400 million grant through the Extraordinary Regional Growth Fund, and DCMS will provide a £438 million grant to invest in new community infrastructure to “maximize the benefits of development and support growth across the region.”
These grants will be disbursed only after Universal completes the community infrastructure (in the case of the DCMS grant) and officially opens the theme park and resort.
The Department for Transport will also develop the strategic road and rail network at the A421 and Wixams railway station at an expected cost of £474 million.
DCMS said Universal’s choice of Bedford for its first European park was “testament to the strength of the UK’s visitor offering and creative industries”.
He added that Universal is “committed to providing world-class educational opportunities for the next generation of workforce, including a range of apprenticeships and internships.”
Culture Minister Ms Nandy said: “This unprecedented investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and provides rocket boosters to our entertainment sector.
“The UK is second to none when it comes to creating world-class experiences. We’re proud to support British industry, invest in local talent and partner with powerhouses like Universal to create jobs, growth and opportunities in the UK.”
More than 100 people have already been recruited to work on the project in the UK, and Universal has received expressions of interest in employment from around 33,000 people.
Around 80% of staff at the theme park and resort are expected to come from Bedfordshire and surrounding areas.
Universal theme parks in the US feature rides and attractions from major blockbusters and film franchises, including Minions, ET and Jurassic Park, as well as Kung Fu Panda, Fast and Furious and Shrek.
Universal currently has five entertainment and resort complexes worldwide: Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in the United States, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, and Universal Beijing Resort and Universal Studios Singapore in China.
