Universal Studios Great Britain

[Coasters4Life]

AIBU to be ridiculously excited about the prospect of a Universal Studios opening in the UK?

I've only just heard about it am shocked to learn they have bought land here already, seems like a real possibility it will get the green light. It's only about 40 minutes from my house, I've never been to Florida but Universal has always been on my wish list, if this opens I'll be there every weekend 🤣

Anyone else here excited? I did a search and couldn't find any threads. If it happens, my girls and I will LOVE it!

But the surrounding land is greenbelt. The brickworks is tiny, and already very overgrown and full once again of birds, trees, insects. All of that will be demolished for something that will produce millions of tonnes of carbon, plastic tat and food packaging. It's an absolutely dreadful idea for the area.

This map (from https://universalukproject.co.uk/) shows that part of the lakes are included...

Anyway, the lakes don't have to be included in the purchase for wildlife living there to be affected, and for the environment to be adversely affected by such a huge amount of building work.

When I have been to Alton Towers, for example, I haven't noticed foreign tourists

I always seem to find massive groups of foreign school kids who queue jump 🙄

Yes, @Windwwwash - I agree. There is a lot of wildlife around there. You have the river and the associated flood plains, nature reserves etc., and the old brickworks lakes act like a protected corridor for wildlife along the A421.

I think we are talking at cross purposes about 'lakes'. That on the plan is the existing quite large Stewartby Lake which is used for small boat sailing (and recently a drowning occurred there). In the brickworks site there are smaller 'lakes'. There is also a charming incinerator there so they can't buy that bit!

Another thing thrown on local land with one of those special government orders, despite MP saying she would fight it (LOL, was Dorries!).

But all of the waterways in the area (of which there are loads) will be enormously damaged by this development.

Difficult for me to get excited about because the Swanscombe one has been discussed for at least 15 years with lots of goverment support and nothing ever happened
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Resort
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/amp/london-resort-theme-park-will-still-be-built-vows-top-exec-298929/

I remember first reading the headlines about that one but it never really felt real 🤣 I think it's because the land was never purchased. Apparently they are still trying to get the green light for it and find a backer but I can't see that one coming to fruition now. It's been too long.

I've never been to any theme parks apart from UK ones and am never likely to (can't ever see myself visiting America or Japan) so I really hope it gets made and I can experience a small bit of the magic.

I've been to the one in LA I wasn't too impressed but that's because it was mainly virtual experiences I like real rollercoasters.

Those that think the UK have bad theme parks need to look to your neighbours here in Ireland to see how good ye have it! 😭I haven't been over for a while though but used to go annually for a trip .

They reckon the earliest it will open is 2030. I'll be 51 then, but will be there!

I've done Florida and California Universal parks before and think they're a good fit for the UK.

A lot of the rides are indoor, tech based rides,, including rollercoasters (The Mummy and Escape from Gringotts), which is important in a country that actually has a winter, unless they want to close down in the winter like the Merlin parks do (I'd really hope they were a 365 day park though).

They said in their presentation that location wise, a significant proportion of the UK population could get to the park within 2 hours.

We're 60 miles away and currently google tells me that we're 70 minutes away, so we'd definitely go there a lot.

Well you can see my house on those maps. How will my visitors stay in the local premier inn? All rooms will be booked. And prices will rise

My mum works at the local council and they are thinking council taxes will rise

I would imagine there will be more hotels popping up to cash in. Especially premier Innsmd the like. They may make your local one bigger if the space allows it.

I think the plans include a hotel. Opposite my house is some land that was always meant to be a hotel and pub. Never any signs of activity on the mud.

I guess the big Premier Inn must be excited as I don't think it's ever full.

The 2 hours' journey to Stewartby probably doesn't factor in the permanent traffic jam that is the M1 junction 13.

There was a segment on the JVS show today about this which seemed really positive. Worth a listen, he seemed to be really pushing for an opposing voice to call in and seemed quite disappointed when none did. Was good to hear from more of the locals in the area so worth a listen!

What's JVS? And what's its reach?

The BBC did an article with mostly positive views but the dissenting voice was very close. The positives were coming form people in Ampthill, for example - who will face no disruption but be seen as local. I don't think many are appreciating how residential this area is and how much road development will be needed.

I feel sorry for Stewartby now, sandwiched between Covanta incinerator and all the disruption of the theme park build.

Yeah, don't get too excited yet though...

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/london-resort-theme-park-will-still-be-built-vows-top-exec-298929/

JVS = Jonathan Vernon Smith show on BBC 3 Counties radio.

Yeah I hadn't realised there was an incinerator in the area, it does seem like they are trying to build that area up quite a lot!

They are because it's brownfield so easy planning. They reckon there will be no gap between MK and Bedford eventually.

But it's also a Call for Housing area so that's a bit of an issue. I also thought that they were looking to build more houses on brownfield sites to protect greenbelt land from overbuilding .

I remember them saying this about Hitchin and Stevenage around 20 years ago, hopefully it won't be the case between MK and Bedford, that is an awful lot of land to build up!

They are putting up so many warehouses everywhere too! I think that's one of the reasons I'm so excited about a park like this because I'm so bored of looking at new grey boxes popping up all over the place.

It already virtually is the case OP.

Sounds cool. I hope they tailor it for the weather and make it a more indoor experience.

Florida is about 500 acres and from what I can tell this is about 450 so should be quite good in size.

So true!

Whilst the land has technically been purchased, I'm sure I've read it's a specific kind of purchase that allows them to explore plans but if it doesn't work out the land can be offloaded? Presumably to stop others swooping in to take the land? Sorry not an expert, but just to say I've read it's not concrete just because it's been purchased (no pun intended).

I really hope it pans out. Our theme parks are so shit compared to the US.

No they have said throughout its not agreed or got the green light yet. Hopefully they will confirm by the end of the year.

Me too! I've been watching some videos about the universal IOA to see their theming, they do look incredible and loads of rides are inside which is so good for the English weather!