The entertainment resort, branded Universal United Kingdom Resort, will rise on the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks site and is set to become Universal’s first theme park destination in Europe.
Government backing will fund road, rail and community infrastructure improvements needed to support an attraction expected to draw 8.5 million visitors a year and challenge for the title of Europe’s busiest theme park.
The funding package includes £474m for upgrades to the A421 and Wixams railway station, alongside £838m of grant support for regional growth and local infrastructure works.
Enabling works are already under way and the first major infrastructure contracts are now emerging.
Leatherhead-based utility infrastructure specialist ESP has secured a key role delivering essential services to the development. The firm will design, build and operate major site infrastructure including a substantial new water treatment facility and an all-electric central energy plant alongside environmental services specialist Veolia.
The energy centre forms part of Universal’s plans to create a largely electrified resort capable of supporting one of the largest leisure developments ever built in Britain.
Universal’s proposed UK theme park site is in Bedfordshire, just south-west of Bedford, centred on the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks and surrounding land
A main works contractor has not yet been announced for the huge project. More than 100 people have already been recruited to work on the project ahead of construction ramping up.
Comcast NBCUniversal will invest more than £5bn constructing the resort over an expected five-year build programme, with a further £1bn earmarked for capital investment during the first decade of operation.
The project is forecast to generate almost £50bn of economic benefit by 2055 and create a major construction pipeline across infrastructure, utilities, civils, building, hospitality and specialist attractions.
Universal expects the development to support nearly 20,000 construction jobs during delivery and create a further 8,000 permanent operational roles when the resort opens in 2031. Around 80% of employees are expected to come from Bedfordshire and neighbouring counties.
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