Work has begun on Universal’s new Bedford theme park, after the Special Development Order granted by the Ministry of Housing last month came into effect on 12 January.

The SDO allowed the government to bypass local planning regulation, with Universal Destinations and Experiences now on schedule to meet the proposed 2031 opening date.

“The SDO will facilitate the development of one of the UK’s most significant inward investment opportunities,” reported Blooloop. “Universal’s UK resort is expected to attract more than eight million visitors annually and provide a £50bn benefit to the economy by 2055.”

“The project will create around 20,000 jobs during the construction period, and 8,000 permanent positions once operational. Universal is targeting a 2031 opening for the park, as confirmed in September by Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations and Experiences.”

Speaking on the proposed design of the park, Woodbury told reporters “we’ve created a different mix of attractions that we think will work great in
the UK.”

“It’s a full-blown Universal theme park with a 500-room hotel that is part of it, very much like Epic in terms of a park with a hotel.”

Universal’s Epic Universe is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, which opened in May last year.