Universal could take on Disneyland Paris and Europe theme parks

Universal’s UK theme park was given the green light this week; It was a decision that created excitement among families all over the country who might want to leave one day.

After months of debate, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed granted planning permission for the park to be built at Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford.

This is not just an attraction; The US entertainment giant’s attempt to build one of the world’s largest theme parks.

Universal stated in planning documents that a country like the UK should have at least two global theme parks and called the project a “generational opportunity”.

So can Universal pull off something on this scale? BBC News has heard from locals that this can be a bit difficult and not everyone is happy.

“They didn’t buy enough land; what they need to buy is 2,000 acres and put the theme park in the middle,” said Claudia Pixley, 46, who lives in a bungalow on Manor Road, where the theme park entrance will be built.

“But some of the roads around here are small country roads.”

“If anything goes wrong on the M1 or the A421, this whole area would come to a standstill… and then you want to put Universal Studios in the middle of it.”

He calls the project “utter madness” and says Universal representatives approached him about buying the home he’s lived in for the past decade, but he wants to stay in “a little slice of Heaven.”

He may be one of the few people in the area unhappy with the new park. According to Universal, 92% of respondents to a survey of 6,000 people in the Bedford area supported the development.

But it raises an interesting point about what can and cannot be achieved in the theme park’s grand vision of competing with the biggest and best existing equivalents around the world.

The park, which is planned to open in 2031, is expected to attract 8.5 million visitors annually. May have the highest rides seen in Europe. The total size of the facility will be 268 hectares (662 acres), while the theme park will be 96.7 hectares (238 acres).

Universal said visitor numbers are expected to rise to 12 million by 2051, making the park the most visited park in Europe. Disneyland Paris held the title last year, according to Forbes With 10.2 million visitors.

But even at opening, 8.5 million people attended, more than three times as many as the UK’s largest parks today:

• Legoland Windsor Resort, Berkshire: 61 hectares (150 acres), 2.42 million annual visitors (2023)
• Alton Towers, Staffordshire: 222 hectares (550 acres), 2.35 million annual visitors (2023)
• Thorpe Park, Surrey: 200 hectares (490 acres), 1.62 million annual visitors (2023)
• Chessington World of Adventure Resort: 52 hectares (128 acres), 1.5 million annual visitors (2022)

According to Theme Park Kate, a content creator specializing in theme parks and attractions on TikTok, Universal’s future attraction could be “a huge game changer in Europe,” and with its size and rides, that ambition is realistic.

“It will potentially be a theme park that can compete with the popularity of Disneyland Paris, which has dominated the European theme park market for many years,” he told BBC News.

The theme park fan predicted that the park would benefit from the use of intellectual property (IP) that is not used elsewhere in the world.

He added: “Harry Potter has currently been produced at various Universal parks, but rumor has it that a new IP like James Bond or Lord of the Rings will be exclusive to the park and bring in a lot of fans who will want to see these brand new experiences for themselves for the first time.”

A source told the BBC last year: The new park may include James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Paddington and Jurassic World-themed rides – but a Universal spokesman said it was too early to confirm this.

Theme Park Kate hopes this will create a ripple effect that will strengthen the country’s existing parks and force them to “up their game” to suit Universal.

YouTuber Jack Silkstone, who has visited theme parks around the world, agrees. He lives “next door” to Thorpe Park and his message to unhappy Bedford residents like Claudia is that living on the doorstep of a theme park is “literally a dream”.

“Everyone has some connection to the park, whether they work there themselves, know someone who works there, like to visit, or aspire to work in the park when they grow up,” he said.

“It creates a real sense of community which then spreads to the wider surrounding towns.”

Jack sees the projected size of the Universal UK park as a huge opportunity for the UK economy and seems confident that the company can achieve its scale targets.

“We’re very lucky, we already have some great, classic theme parks in this country. But Universal are global leaders in the theme park industry; they do it differently.”

Universal said it expects to directly create 8,050 jobs when it opens, with most staff coming from surrounding areas.

The town of Wixams, which borders the new theme park, is also elevated four-platform railway station as part of the offers.

Despite concerns from some like Claudia that the area would not be able to cope with the influx of visitors, Bedford councilor Marc Frost said councilors had been reassured that traffic studies had been completed and road infrastructure would be in place.

He added that Universal’s relationship with local officials shows they “genuinely want to work and get along with their neighbors.”

Another thing to consider for those living in the local area is property prices, and some may be better off than others.

Nick Kier, a partner at real estate agents Lane & Holmes, says he already knows some people who have purchased property near the Universal site, which they plan to rent to visitors in the future.

“There are clear winners and losers in this scenario,” he explains, “and with so much investment coming in, you can’t expect prices not to rise.”

“People who live here for a completely different reason will find it more expensive… That’s the loser.”

He also acknowledges that local hotels miles away will also benefit.

What’s clear is that if all goes as planned, Universal Park could outshine many of its competitors, and while the implications are a double-edged sword, many are excited to see what its opening will bring.