FabSwingers.com forum: Universal Studios

By *orny PT OP Man
over a year ago

Peterborough

Has Essex Tom seen this one?

It's all over the news

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/breaking-news-universal-studios-confirm-they-are-planning-a-theme-park-in-bedford-borough/

"The Bedford Independent can exclusively reveal that Universal Studios has confirmed it has purchased land near Bedford, which it is exploring as a possible theme park site.

A spokesperson from Universal Destinations & Experiences told the Bedford Independent, “We recently acquired land in Bedford [Borough] and are at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site.

“It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community.”

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By *iss DevilWoman
6 weeks ago

Bedford

I can add an update to it. It was announced last night that Universal ARE coming to Bedford! Which is incredible news for the area.

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By *iltsTSgirlTV/TS
6 weeks ago

Chichester

Be good boost to economy as long as it dunno bust with a year or two

Though 2031 estimated open date A lot can go wrong now it’s approved before anything happens on the ground

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By *dam1971Man
6 weeks ago

Bedford

Should be good for the area. I remember when they built Center Parcs near Ampthill a few years ago, loads of people employed in the construction and even now the staff are from the local area too.

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By *ethro773Man
6 weeks ago

Chippenham

As someone who works within this sector i can say it's all that has been talked about for a couple of years. Some of the other parks have literally stopped spending to see what will happens. Hopefully it will revive the industry which has been a little stagnant in recent times. Universal and Disney are very different experiences to what we have here at present so the UK parks will have to up their game to stay competitive.

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By *ensualtongue2023Man
6 weeks ago

furnace

No interest in theme parks tbh never been to

One and never will and don’t think we need anymore

. Our towns and cities are dying and need investment

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By *ad NannaWoman
6 weeks ago

East London

They said that about land in Kent, just over the river from me.

A theme park to rival Disney land Paris, but it didn't happen because of conserving the wildlife and locals complaining about traffic.

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By *obb117Man
6 weeks ago

Wantage

Amazing news. Been to the Orlando park once and was the best holiday i ever had.

No way I can afford to get out there these days. So this is awesome news.

Hopefully this will also be the kick up the arse that Merlin needed to sort out some of the other theme parks. Alton Towers especially.

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By *aizyWoman
6 weeks ago

west midlands

I already have my trip planned!

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By *iss DevilWoman
6 weeks ago

Bedford

"I already have my trip planned!"
lol, for 2031? As that's when they're hoping to be open by.

I'm not a theme park enthusiast but I can see how much good it could do to the area.

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By *ndycoinsMan
6 weeks ago

Whaley Bridge,Nr Buxton,

"No interest in theme parks tbh never been to

One and never will and don’t think we need anymore

. Our towns and cities are dying and need investment "

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By *hief_Of_AlwaysMan
6 weeks ago

1313 Mockingbird Lane…

Yeah, I heard about that

Was thinking of investing in a property in the area 🤑

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By *dam1971Man
6 weeks ago

Bedford

"No interest in theme parks tbh never been to

One and never will and don’t think we need anymore

. Our towns and cities are dying and need investment "

Agree about the town centres being on their arses, but I don’t understand what it’s got to do with this?

Rejuvenating town centres can be helped by many organisations, but I don’t think it’s the job of a company from another country, is it?

Even if they directly threw a load of money at the town council, without some intelligent planning behind it the whole thing goes nowhere.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

If it wasn't for the British Empire and various trading companies, would how many companies would have a railway today? Singapore is doing just fine.

All Empires do have a past to be proud of and a dark history too. Romans, Danish, Norman, Ottoman and so on.

We live in a global economy, even our government uses, American data servers for cloud storage.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

"No interest in theme parks tbh never been to

One and never will and don’t think we need anymore

. Our towns and cities are dying and need investment

Agree about the town centres being on their arses, but I don’t understand what it’s got to do with this?

Rejuvenating town centres can be helped by many organisations, but I don’t think it’s the job of a company from another country, is it?

Even if they directly threw a load of money at the town council, without some intelligent planning behind it the whole thing goes nowhere."

Tourism brings in tourists and bolsters the local economy and their spending power.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

"Be good boost to economy as long as it dunno bust with a year or two

Though 2031 estimated open date A lot can go wrong now it’s approved before anything happens on the ground "

Yeah! Trump: the ultimate disaster movie.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
6 weeks ago

Central

I can imagine that the area will be hell, for traffic

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

"I can imagine that the area will be hell, for traffic

It's going to have two new stations, an upgrade to the M1 junction between Milton keynes and Bedford, puls the airport traffic will be coming up from London against the lodon bound commuters.

I've been to the consultation. They seem to have answered this question already, The idea of a dedicated set of buses has been floated by me to Universal bosses last year. One for Cranfield college, one for Bedford and one for Milton Keynes.

I'm not going to say it will happen, but I did suggest it.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

"Amazing news. Been to the Orlando park once and was the best holiday i ever had.

No way I can afford to get out there these days. So this is awesome news.

Hopefully this will also be the kick up the arse that Merlin needed to sort out some of the other theme parks. Alton Towers especially. "

This was said at the consultation, you would have enjoyed it. This is one battle Merlin may struggle.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

Following more than a year of feasibility, due diligence, and close engagement with local and national stakeholders, as well as members of the local surrounding communities, Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, announced today it intends to build and operate the company’s first-ever Universal branded theme park and resort in the United Kingdom, located in Bedford, pending planning consent approvals.

The proposed plans include an entertainment resort complex with a world-class theme park with several themed lands featuring Universal’s distinct brand of immersive storytelling, thrilling rides, innovative attractions and exciting entertainment. Initial resort plans also feature a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment complex. It will be the first Universal-branded theme park in the UK and Europe.

This development will have a transformative impact on Bedford and the UK economy. It will be a major contributor to the creative arts and tourism industries, generating nearly £50 billion of economic benefit for the UK and creating thousands of new, high-quality jobs. At opening, the theme park would be one of the largest employers in the region, with approximately 80% of employees expected to come from Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, with many more communities benefiting from apprenticeships, training and educational opportunities.

The project, with strong support from the national and local Government, National Highways and Network Rail, will also help to unlock several longstanding local transportation upgrades. This includes the expanded construction of Wixams railway station, direct slip roads from the A421 to accommodate road traffic, and an upgraded Manor Road, in addition to improvements to the Active Travel Network.

The response to the project has been very positive – with thousands of local residents participating in our engagement period last year and 92% expressing their support.

Our next steps:

A planning proposal will be submitted to Government in the months ahead with a projected construction start date in 2026, subject to the relevant planning approval. Additional news will be shared on the project’s website universalukproject co uk and local residents will be kept abreast of the status of the project’s planning proposal.

On behalf of the company, we sincerely appreciate the widespread support and enthusiasm for this project, and we look forward to the next steps in the months ahead.

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By *aggy dollsCouple
6 weeks ago

bradford

I have reservations about this, Wales has just lost a theme park and Blackpool pleasure beach has announced massive losses so I'm not entirely convinced that it will be viable at this time.

The government has given it their backing and pledged to implement the surrounding infrastructure to support it so how do they intend to fund all this extra infrastructure given they keep telling us the country is on its uppers (yes i know that in theory it will generate money and employment however I refer you to my opening statement).

That land is perfect "brownbelt" for building all the extra housing that the country desperately needs without sacrificing our precious and equally needed greenbelt land.

And I won't start on the fact that once again it's the south getting all the investment while the north gets neglected.

Mr H

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By *dam1971Man
6 weeks ago

Bedford

"That land is perfect "brownbelt" for building all the extra housing that the country desperately needs without sacrificing our precious and equally needed greenbelt land.

There’s already a new village about 2 miles from the site, I don’t think building another one there is good. We’re really not short of available land to build on around here.

However I agree with your other points

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By *Silver-Man
6 weeks ago

North Wales

Bedford seems an odd place to put it, I mean who goes to Bedford unless visiting the HMP

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By *aggy dollsCouple
6 weeks ago

bradford

"That land is perfect "brownbelt" for building all the extra housing that the country desperately needs without sacrificing our precious and equally needed greenbelt land.

There’s already a new village about 2 miles from the site, I don’t think building another one there is good. We’re really not short of available land to build on around here.

However I agree with your other points"

I don't personally know the area or the developments that are currently ongoing, it's more of a general observation that the powers at be are trying to destroy our greenbelt when there is plenty of brownbelt options, that particular site is just 1 example. Also I've tried not be too negative about it which I found difficult because in theory it's a great thing that should help boost the economy but I do believe that the timing is completely wrong and I fear it won't be sustainable.

Mr H

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

I do know the area and it is on the site of a former brick works, green belts are great, but if not producing food, how do they help the economy?

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

Who else has seen the YT videos on this and the reports?

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By *uddy laneMan
6 weeks ago

dudley

The country needs houses not bleeding theme parks, I wonder how many houses could be built on the site.

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By *aggy dollsCouple
6 weeks ago

bradford

"I do know the area and it is on the site of a former brick works, green belts are great, but if not producing food, how do they help the economy?"

I know it's on the site of a former brickworks, and greenbelt isn't just there for the economy it's also about the health of the planet.

"When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can't eat money"

Mr H

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By *oml and mwgcCouple
6 weeks ago

Birstall

It sounds great, i can't wait to visit it.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

"The country needs houses not bleeding theme parks, I wonder how many houses could be built on the site."

I get it, but were are the new employers coming from?

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By *ave-and-LouiseCouple
6 weeks ago

Torquay

Awesome, can't afford to go to America but could definitely manage it in the UK.

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By *arakiss12TV/TS
6 weeks ago

Bedfuck

My mate Nat the Nute lives at the precise spot, and he ain't happy. He has a family too. They hate Labour and Universal right now.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

riiight.

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

"The country needs houses not bleeding theme parks, I wonder how many houses could be built on the site."

To get a house you need a job. do you agree? To get a job you need an employer. Do you agree?

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By *r TriomanMan
6 weeks ago

Somewhere Southwest

Will we have to pay US tariffs? 🤔

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By *oubleswing2019Man
6 weeks ago

Colchester

"Will we have to pay US tariffs? 🤔"

Nope. But I suspect it's going to be eye-wateringly expensive.

Universal (Hollywood) prices :

1-Day General Admission: Starting from £152 for adults and £142 for children (ages 3-9).

Thats £588 for a family of 2 adults, 2 children. Throw in drinks, snacks and a meal and..well, not much change from 1K I should imagine.

With no serious competition in the UK, they can probably charge what they like.

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By *lix CoxMan
6 weeks ago

CF39

It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community. like never.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
6 weeks ago

Central

"Will we have to pay US tariffs? 🤔

Nope. But I suspect it's going to be eye-wateringly expensive.

Universal (Hollywood) prices :

1-Day General Admission: Starting from £152 for adults and £142 for children (ages 3-9).

Thats £588 for a family of 2 adults, 2 children. Throw in drinks, snacks and a meal and..well, not much change from 1K I should imagine.

With no serious competition in the UK, they can probably charge what they like."

Yikes

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By *echnosonic_BrummieMan
6 weeks ago

Willenhall

I can't imagine there's many white elephants in Bedford.

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By * and M lookingCouple
6 weeks ago

Worcester

Yep, another reason not to go to Bedford.

Why would anyone choose to put anything in that place?

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By *orny PT OP Man
6 weeks ago

Peterborough

"Yep, another reason not to go to Bedford.

Why would anyone choose to put anything in that place?"

Read the blurb.

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By *oubleswing2019Man
6 weeks ago

Colchester

Mrs DS did raise an interesting point, when I mentioned the possible prices for a general day admission for a family of 4.

"Folks coming from further afield are unlikely to make a single day of it. They'll want to travel up on a Fri night perhaps, stay 2 nights, do the park over 2 days, then leave Sunday. Factor in more meal costs and over night stays at the hotels that will be built."

For a family of four (2A, 2C), I'm ballparking somewhere between 2-3K.

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By *ong-leggedblondWoman
6 weeks ago

Next Door

People will still go and pay stupid amount of money to get in and for food.

Then probably moan that they can't afford the monthly bills!

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