Universal studios on my doorstep

[Queenofkittens]

So universal studios have been given the green light to go ahead and plan a park in Bedford. I actually live in Wixams, the newer village and have done for the past 5 years. Universal studios will be right on my doorstep and I'm not sure how I feel about it. One part of me is excited to have something so close that will be great for the kids and so on and the other part of me is dreading it. The traffic for starters. Also, I'm aware that house prices (including mine) are set to increase meaning we will have definitely made some money on it but we weren't planning on staying forever as we ideally need a larger house so our boys don't have to share a room. However, I understand we won't be able to afford a bigger house in wixams but will I even be able to buy a house in Bedford at all? Are the prices going to be so ridiculous that I won't be able to live here (which I have for the last 31 years!). Does anyone think I'm being silly (AIBU) or would you genuinely be worried? (YANBU)

it doesnt have planning permission yet

I live in a place where it’s very likely a huge housing estate will pop up next door and vastly change the local community so get the angst

when the planning permission comes there will probably be a local consultation of sorts so make sure you get involved. The local mp almost certainly will.’

economically it’s likely to be good for the area (and probably house price) - my main concerns would be
a. Environmental (what are they going to destroy to build it)
b. Traffic
c. Construction noise and access eg in our situation we may end up with construction traffic going past our house for years

It's a good thing. For everyone.

If you weren't planning on staying in the area anyway nothing much will have an impact on you so I'd go ahead and live my life as I'd always planned to to be honest.

I've no idea where Bedford even is or what the house prices are like but if this was happening near me I would be looking to move sooner rather than later.

Disagree with this. Harry Potter studios sprung up almost next door to my uncle’s house, yes it was good for the area in general but all he got was noise and traffic. He eventually sold up and moved on and is pretty bitter about the whole thing having lived on the same place for decades

I'm in Kempston so it's very close to us too. Honestly? I'm in a happier position as this is mine and DD's 'forever home'...can't cope with ever moving again! DD is excited that it's going to boost the likelihood of seasonal work, she's currently 14 so planning ahead! I'm grateful that something is coming to the area. We've lost so many of the big employers over the decades, the area needed something.
Yes, traffic will increase but I'm just looking on the positive, and maybe eyeing my spare room as a potential source of occasional income!

Something like this is a 10 year development, it’s not going to be relevant in terms of your kids sharing or not sharing a bedroom.

Something similar (but on a smaller scale) got built near my dad's. The traffic, parking and noise became alot worse. It did increase the value of his house though!

Planned opening is 2031.

YANBU to be concerned about this. Locals will visit a few times then never again once the novelty wears off. I'd be concerned that they'll sell-up and then family homes will become hotels and Air B&Bs.

The upside is that it will bring jobs to the local area but probably only during the tourist season.

The likelihood of this actually happening are tiny. There were huge plans for one in Kent, but it never got off the ground - mainly because of the impact on local wildlife when they actually started applying for planning permission.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7g032m0m0o#:~:text=The%20company%20behind%20plans%20for%20a%20%C2%A33.5bn%20Disneyland,attracted%20objections%20from%20conservation%20charities.

I'm so bloody excited! The job opportunities that will be available, more money in the area. Finally Bedfordshire will be on the map for good reasons.

You could keep your house and let it out to people visiting Universal? You’ll make a fortune!

This is local to me, and I think much of the traffic is attributable to the c500 homes that were built on the site next door.

Many people travel into HP by train & shuttle bus, and there’s an almost direct link to the M25 for car traffic.

London Resort didn't have a brand like Universal or Disney behind it.

Also, the BBC News story says "A full planning proposal will be submitted to the UK government with construction expected to start in 2026." Not the local authority, the UK government, which is desperate for any development, anywhere and will say "Yes, absolutely, go ahead!" The UK government is even funding improvements to infrastructure to tempt Universal into the project.

It will happen

But this has already been done for the Universal studios development. We've had public consultations and all that stuff over the last year. It still needs government approval for planning but they've made it clear they want this so it really looks as though it is now going ahead.

Which is 6 years away and these sort of developments always face delays. They’re relying on transport infrastructure being completed too.
As I said, it’s a 10 year development. If not longer.

We live nearby too and I think it'll be good for the area. Bedfordshire could do with a bit of a boost in terms of jobs. And they are putting in the new railway station at the Wixams which will also be good.

Yes definitely the houses. There is very little traffic itself by the studios.

I’d move, no sane person wants to live at Chessington world of adventures, look at poor Windsor and Legoland.

Good for the country and tourism - NIMBYism is a hard thing to come to terms with,

It's the construction timescale that is the killer. Just living in limbo until it's all up and running. I think people under estimate the effect construction traffic have on the local community (speaks from bitter experience). As a major international brand the non-UK visitors will be great but hopefully the infrastructure will be improved sufficiently to take it (more upheaval).
On the other hand, as a non-local I will definitely be visiting!

I’m planning a local move later this year and was actively planning to buy closer to Kempston Hardwick so that I could Air BNB my house out over the summer! It will be a huge disruption for sure, but the opportunities in years to come will also be huge. I missed the chance of snapping up a bargain before the news was officially announced but I think house prices will probably not rise substantially until its all done so you have years to plan.

This will be open all year round. I don't think the novelty will wear off for locals. We have Alton towers on our doorstep and go most weeks.

YABU about house prices, look at house prices in Alton near Alton Towers, they're about the same as other villages in the area, and the nearest town Cheadle is one of the cheapest places in Staffordshire to live outside of Stoke on Trent. YANBU to worry about traffic.

This
it’s the will they won’t they and then the disruption I’d be most worried about.
if they just got on and built the bloody thing quickly I’d be happier