What a monumental day it was when Universal announced that they were planning to bring a theme park to the UK as Bedford is ready and waiting for this exciting new park to open in 2031 (2030 if they get a move on)
Today marked a major milestone in that process as Universal Destinations & Experiences have submitted as Special Development Order which is a very special request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
This request features the usual information you’d see. in a planning application such as planning statements, design and a access statements along with Environmental Statements and the proposal is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Special Development Orders are for projects of nations significance and as a result usually bypass the need for traditional planning applications to local councils (not that they wouldn’t mind anyways).
This world-class theme park will feature several themed lands with Jurassic World, Minions and Back to the Future all rumoured to be included in this exciting future for the UK theme park industry.
The development will generate £50 billion of economic benefit and create 28,000 jobs.
Upon opening Universal would be one of the largest employers in the region with 80% of employees (approximately) expected to come from Bedford and the surrounding areas.
Once the request is received (according to the letter updated on the project website today) MHCLG will be inviting representations on the Environmental Statement that accompanies the request, as well as the other documents, plans, and drawings submitted in relation to the proposed development.
In the meantime please do check out an interview that we did with Labour Member of Parliament for Bedford Mohammad Yasin as he discussed the Universal project the second it was announced to the world.
