Secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Steve Reed has granted planning permission for the UK’s first Universal Studios theme park
The Universal Studios theme park will be built on the site of a former brickworks, with improvements to infrastructure such as a new railway station in Stewartby, updates to Wixams railway station and new direct slip roads from the A421. London Luton Airport is expected to service international visitors to the site.
Universal sought the government’s direct involvement in approval via a Special Development Order (SDO), which allows the government to supercede standard local planning procedures.
The project is expected to boost the Bedfordshire economy expontentially, creating 20,000 jobs through construction and supporting 8,000 permanent positions. Universal is committed to “approximately 80% of all jobs going to local workers.”
The park must still pass a statutory parliamentary review period- but pending approval could be open as soon as 2031, according to Universal.
Questions remain about residences close to the site
Residents of Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick, where properties have been earmarked for demolition, told the BBC in July that they had not yet received any information or offers of compensation from Universal.
Blake Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, confirmed his intention to “work closely with residents, the council, and Universal Studios as the project moves forward, to ensure the infrastructure our communities need is delivered so that we can reap the rewards of this exciting development”.
Page Thompson, president of new ventures, Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: “I want to express my sincere appreciation for the continued engagement from Bedford and the various communities surrounding our site, as well as the many other national and local stakeholders who have provided feedback and expressed such enthusiasm on the transformative nature of our project.”
Project updates such as a timeline are expected in the new year.
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