New theme park: Universal Studios… Bedford!

Some enthusiasts are speculation that the roller coaster with the large spike is Back to the Future themed… which comparing the front to the classic square is a darn good shout IMO:

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Woooop wooop.

Wish I had some properties to air BnB to all the contractors coming to work here :D
 
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Is this actually going to happen though?

As there was plans to put a disney or something similar on the Swanscombe marshes and after 8 years or so, they had not dug a single piece of ground up and announced the plans were off the table.

Also, Bedford? Wtf.
 
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Rifte said:
I am an expat, so the property is currently leased, but this does sound like a great idea.
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When properties become scarce, companies trying to house their contractors will pay handsomely for a long term let (should they have a long term contract there).
 
sidimmu said:
Is this actually going to happen though?

As there was plans to put a disney or something similar on the Swanscombe marshes and after 8 years or so, they had not dug a single piece of ground up and announced the plans were off the table.

Also, Bedford? Wtf.
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Best spot they have ever seen apparently. 2 rail links and you can reach it from most of the country in under 3 hours. They are building 2 stations in it.

Putting these things near London puts people off these days. Way to busy, expensive and urban and you just know Khan the arse would extend the ULEZ around it after it's finished.
 
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sidimmu said:
Is this actually going to happen though?

As there was plans to put a disney or something similar on the Swanscombe marshes and after 8 years or so, they had not dug a single piece of ground up and announced the plans were off the table.

Also, Bedford? Wtf.
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I'd never heard of that plan but by the sounds of it (a) it had nothing to do with Disney and was some Kuwaiti businessman trying his luck and (b) the proposed site was an area of special scientific interest and very well protected by Natural England and other groups.

This plan is bankrolled by Comcast who have a yearly revenue of over $100bn, own and run the existing Universal Studios resorts, own the film studios, own NBCUniversal and Sky and have all of the IP ready to go. And they've now done the photocall with the PM. I don't see why anyone would be doubting that this goes ahead.

And as above, Bedford is arguably a great spot especially when Luton gets it's expansion. It's very easy to get to from London on two different train lines and is just down the road from Sky Studios at Elstree.
 
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Still in the "wishful thinking" camp, until there's a spade in the ground there's every chance this still won't go ahead due to agreements for funding and planning restrictions

Previous plans for next to the site with the NIRAH project: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-26666587

Just 3 months ago, the land next to the Universal park which was going to support film production was scrapped as the project wasn't viable: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgr6x2n8n5o , this has now been sold to a developer for housing.

Bought the site for cheap, start digging it, get it classified as brownfield after the plan collapses, flog it for housing.

When Centerparcs was built down the road the only infrastructure change was an enlargement of a roundabout next to the site, this is going to need significant improvements to the A421 which requires Bedford Borough admitting that the recent works in that area in the last 10 years had no futureproofing in the plan, especially around the A6 bypass and access to Kempston interchange.
 
I don't think houses can be built on that land otherwise it probably would have been already. Its an old brickworks, mostly water. Also near an incinerator/power station.
 
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Nasher said:
Best spot they have ever seen apparently. 2 rail links and you can reach it from most of the country in under 3 hours. They are building 2 stations in it.

Putting these things near London puts people off these days. Way to busy, expensive and urban and you just know Khan the arse would extend the ULEZ around it after it's finished.
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Yeah thats fair enough, but yeah agreed, ULEZ would expand if it was on the border. Chessington is a good example of this.

Scam said:
I'd never heard of that plan but by the sounds of it (a) it had nothing to do with Disney and was some Kuwaiti businessman trying his luck and (b) the proposed site was an area of special scientific interest and very well protected by Natural England and other groups.
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Got it wrong, was paramount who have the money to do it, but never did.

en.wikipedia.org

London Resort - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
sidimmu said:
Got it wrong, was paramount who have the money to do it, but never did.
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Sounds more like they were just planning to licence the IP to be honest. Again, no comparison to Universal that already run what 5-6 theme parks around the world?

If I were to be as negative as you ( ;) ) the only thing I'd worry about is the state of UK projects like this. However this is a private enterprise so shouldnt really go the route of HS2 and other such nonsense you'd hope.
 
Nasher said:
I don't think houses can be built on that land otherwise it probably would have been already. Its an old brickworks, mostly water. Also near an incinerator/power station.
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It's going to be housing:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wqx3z1zyxo : Former Stewartby brickworks sold to developer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czepej2ndw3o : Bat roost plans at former brickworks housing site

Outline planning given in 2021 and now going through consultation: https://harworth-stewartbybrickworks.co.uk/interactive-map/

The land for Universal is just north of this site
 
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