RESIDENTS of a village by the site of the UK’s first Universal theme park claim it’s going to be horrendous and ruin their quiet way of life.
The quiet village of Stewartby, Bedford – home to just over 1,000 residents – is set to transform as a former industrial site is turned into a 476-acre mega resort.
The Universal theme park in Europe is expected to open in 2031[/caption]
The multi-billion-pound project will transform the local area[/caption]
Expected to open in 2031, the £50billion park will have some ‘high-speed rides and immersive attractions‘ including famous franchises like Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Minions, and more.
The plans, which were confirmed by the Prime Minister earlier this week, are due to generate around 28,000 jobs with 20,000 roles created during the construction phase alone.
However, despite many sharing their enthusiasm for the enormous project, some residents from the local village worry it’s going to be “horrendous” and ruin their quiet way of life.
They say their “small close-knit community” will be flooded with tourists, causing “carnage” in the area.
Karla Robinson, a local beauty therapist, told Cambridge Live: “I feel sorry for the houses around Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick because all it takes is a problem on the M1 before everybody starts coming up the A142.
“Any new traffic that the new theme park might bring in will just make things horrendous – it will be carnage.”
For other residents like Shane Walker and Alom Nahibur, however, the park will be an “exciting” addition to the community.
With Milton Keynes or Cambridge often focal points for tourists, they said they’re thrilled the area will no longer be overlooked.
Alom said: “I think it’s good for the local community – any marketing is good marketing.”
What’s in the resort?
The park will have some ‘high-speed rides and immersive attractions’ although little else is known about else this could include although is likely to be a number of big rollercoasters.
While exact ride details haven’t been revealed yet, fans can expect famous franchises like Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Minions, and more.
The resort will also have a 500-room hotel on-site.
The resort is due to open in 2031, with construction kicking off in 2026, once it gets final planning permission from the Ministry of Housing.
As many as 8.5million people are expected to visit in the first year of opening.
When does work begin on two new train stations?
To cope with the crowds, two railway stations are being built or upgraded near the resort.
Wixams Station, on the Midland Main Line, will connect to London in just 45 minutes via Thameslink.
Construction is underway, with options to expand the station once the theme park is live.
Kempston Hardwick Station, currently the quietest in Bedfordshire, will be rebuilt from scratch into a high-capacity hub linked to the Marston Vale Line, part of the future East-West Rail between Oxford and Cambridge.
This means easy access from across the country – and fewer traffic jams on the A421.
How many jobs will it create?
The resort is expected to create around 28,000 jobs in total, with 20,000 roles generated during the construction phase alone.
Once open, the park will support a further 8,000 long-term positions across tourism, hospitality, the creative industries, and emerging fields like artificial intelligence.
According to Universal, the development could contribute as much as £50billion to the UK economy by 2055, making it one of the most significant leisure investments in British history.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it a landmark moment, saying it’s not just about the numbers but about “securing real opportunities for people” and “building a brighter future for the UK.”
Neighbouring MP and Labour Growth Group chair Chris Curtis added: “They said dreams only come true in Hollywood, but you’ll soon just need to take the A421 to Bedford.
“Universal setting up on our doorstep is a blockbuster moment for our region – and as a local lad, I know how much this means for jobs, investment, and pride in our area.”
What the new Universal theme park means for the UK
By Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
UNIVERSAL Studios being given the go-ahead for a UK theme park is welcome news for rollercoaster fans.
After the decade-long saga of the London Resort – a £3.5billion project dubbed the UK’s Disneyland that was eventually scrapped – the new Universal park will be the first new theme park in the country in decades.
Backed by both locals and now the government, it will also be the first Universal park in the UK and could have a number of themed lands including Harry Potter, Super Mario and Minions, although nothing has been confirmed yet.
We have a way off until it opens, with it hoping to be ready by 2031.
But with our Head of Travel Lisa Minot having a sneak peak at the new Epic Universe theme park in Florida (opening this summer) – it’s certainly an exciting addition to the UK.
Theme park industry leaders are just as excited.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach, called it “the most significant development in our industry within my lifetime”.
She added: “This is a massive moment for UK leisure and tourism.
“I’ve supported this project from the start and I’m thrilled it’s moving forward.”
This will be Universal’s first ever park in Europe, putting the UK ahead of other destinations like France, Germany, Spain.
Universal’s CEO Mark Woodbury said: “Bringing a world-class theme park and resort to the United Kingdom is a tremendous opportunity.
“We’re excited to make this vision a reality.”
Tourism experts say the park will boost not just Bedfordshire but the whole UK travel sector, from local hotels and B&Bs to national rail and airports.
What happens next?
Universal will submit its full planning application soon and if approved, construction starts in 2026, with the grand opening in 2031.
Until then, the UK’s biggest theme park fans will be counting down the days.
Alon Nahibur, 45, is excited for the new site to open[/caption]
Karla Robertson said she’s concerned about the influx of tourists[/caption]
A new train station is also planned near the park[/caption]
What is the new Universal theme park like in Florida?
By Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
THEME park addicts – prepare to have your minds blown.
I’ve just had a sneaky first look at Universal Orlando Resort’s latest mega park – Epic Universe and it takes everything to an entirely new level.
The sheer scale of the immersive experiences – and astonishing technological advances – that are evident in the £7billion new park are a great foretaste of what British theme park fans could be enjoying within just six years.
Epic Universe officially opens to the pubic on May 22 in Florida but my first look revealed a stunning park with five distinct worlds including Super Nintendo World, How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and of course, Harry Potter, all themed so brilliantly that you are instantly transported.
The faithful recreation of 1920s Paris in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is exceptional.
And the signature ride – Battle at the Ministry – has a queue experience I’d happily queue for alone with its cavernous recreation of the British ministry.
With so many smash hit movie franchises in their original Florida parks – from Jurassic World and Transformers to Minions, Spiderman and the Hulk – I can’t wait to see what the Bedfordshire park will include.
What we can expect though is theming and ride technology unlike anything we have ever seen before in the UK.