Cliff Notes – New Universal theme park set to open in UK
- A new Universal theme park in Bedfordshire has been confirmed, expected to create 28,000 jobs and contribute £50 billion to the UK Economy by 2055.
- Set to open in 2031, the park will be the first Universal-branded location in Europe, with plans for a 500-room hotel and retail complex.
- The project will focus on local employment, with 80% of jobs expected to be filled by residents from nearby areas, and will include infrastructure investments for accessibility.
New Universal theme park set to open in UK – with promise of ‘billions’ of pounds for the economy
A deal for a new Universal theme park in Bedfordshire has been confirmed, which Rachel Reeves says will bring “billions” to the economy and create thousands of jobs.
It will be the first Universal-branded theme park and resort in Europe and is set to open in 2031, when it is expected to become the UK’s most popular visitor attraction.
The government said it will bring an estimated £50bn into the British economy and will create about 28,000 jobs – nearly 20,000 during the construction phase, and 8,000 more in hospitality and the creative industries when it opens.
A boost for the hospitality industry
A 500-room hotel and a retail and entertainment complex is planned alongside the theme park, which will be built on a former brickworks.
Universal, which is owned by Comcast, expects the 476-acre site just south of Bedford to generate nearly £50bn for the economy by 2055, with 8.5m visitors in its first year.
The plan remains subject to a formal planning decision process from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Universal has committed to working with local colleges and universities to train students for hospitality jobs.
Downing Street said the deal represents “a major vote of confidence” in the UK economy and the future of partnerships between the UK and the US.
The announcement comes days after Donald Trump‘s 10% tariffs on all UK exports set in after British trade teams failed to agree a deal.
“Universal’s investment will bring billions to the economy and create thousands of jobs in the UK, putting more money in people’s pockets.”
The government has said about 80% of employees at the theme park are expected to come from local areas, and it will support the “Oxford-Cambridge corridor” revived by the chancellor in January after the Conservatives scrapped plans for an Abingdon-Milton Keynes train link in 2021.
