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)

We’re in Wootton and all super excited. It will bring much, much needed economic boost and jobs, not just to the area but also the Country. Let’s face it, there’s precious little of that happening in the UK right now. Universal’s parks are world class, weve been to a few of them in different parts of the world. We’re heading back to Orlando in August and Epic Universe (which also took 6 years to build) looks by all accounts to be well epic. We simply cannot wait to experience it.

Universal Great Britain will happen and most people I know local are excited. Comcast know what they’re doing. I disagree it’s all going to be low paid service sector jobs, there will be plenty of high tech engineering, imagineering and support roles needed too. I just hope they manage to sort something out with Harry Potter franchise so they can include Wizarding world. Roll on 2031!

Poor old Stewartby hemmed in now by an incinerator and a giant theme park. Doesn't even get the train station!

Ahem. Wootton...

Yes I realised about the stupid autocorrect after posting. Edited. Bane of my life! 😫

It is so exciting. I have had (tiny) involvement with Universal GB regarding the existing waterways and their consideration for conservation is beyond compare with other companies I have dealt with.
Bedford has a rich heritage which is often overlooked and hopefully it will bloom with visitors adding much needed vibrancy to the hospitality sector.
As someone upthread pointed out, frequent visitors to the Orlando theme parks are usually locals.

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.

It’s going to be on the revived east/ west mainline

I too am in Kempston and think it’s fantastic news for the area! Will hopefully be something positive for Bedford 🙏🙏🙏

I think it depends on when you were planning on moving anyway and where to. If you’re sure this will increase house prices, you could either move now while it’s still affordable or wait until your house price goes up and then move 30-45 mins away (so you can still easily go for a day trip but are not so affected by the noise and traffic).

Bollocks. What a thoughtless response. What about the environment? What about the people who live there and who won't go to the park? What about folk who will be affected by traffic, congestion, etc.?

The Marston Vale line will be superceded by the East / West (Cambridge to Oxford) mainline once that is up and running. Bletchley to Oxford will be sorted this years, but there is much to do to transform the Marston Vale line. I hope all of it happens, East West and Universal will both be great for the area.

OP could also plan to rent it long term to the building contractors who won’t all be local so will be needing somewhere (rent it like a HMO, so several in at a time).

People in the area could make an absolute killing if this is looked at as an opportunity.

Ahem, we have a prison too you know.

Any new build like this will have to provide extensive environmental considerations (yes, these can be faked but there would be quite a backlash that wouldn't be worth too much faking). Even established venues are trying to improve their environmental considerations with better recycling, renewable energy sources etc

There will be green spaces, trees etc being included which will improve the area as its brownfield. Single use plastic is very rare as it is now really, they're hardly going to be flooding the rivers with plastic straws.

There's improvements planned for the railway which will help with people using public transport

Economic growth is important and also helps green credentials - it's well known that poorer people can't afford to be "green" because they can't afford things like organic foods etc.

For me personally, I don't like it because as I was hoping to buy a house in Bedford, specifically the Kempston end. I've given up on being able to afford Mikton Keynes and Bedford is much more affordable. Guessing that won't be the case any more. I also use the A421 to go to and from Bedford around twice a week and it takes long enough as it is. But me not liking it doesn't make it a bad idea. It's probably a good thing for Bedford.

Is a Universal Studios park the same thing as Disney Land? Disneyland UK seems a bit unnecessary when we're so close to Euro Disney.

Great news for Bedford, surrounding areas and the whole of the uk

So glad the powers that be have given it the green light

Public transport will just add a station on a line to London which doesn't really help the area much. That's already the one benefit of the area, ease of access to London : I assume in fact that an added station adds time to the Bedford to London journey. It's public transport within and across the county that's woeful. The village of Wixams does gain its long promised station but also , therefore, traffic. It amazes me that we had to get a theme park for that age old promise to be met!

The current brownfield isn't a blot on the landscape as some are imagining. The green spaces won't be readily accessible or even visible, I imagine. They will be hermetically sealed. The south of the county is already increasingly built up and overdeveloped but that's progress in the MK corridor, I guess. Certainly, as per the plans many will lose open views for Universal views, and sounds.
If the park expands which is possible, it will take farmland. Some of the current plans are on farmland.

Call me a curmudgeon but I don't really want to be surrounded by HMOs.

Sorry to hear that it was originally set for Kent and it’s already gridlocked round here & building thousands of new homes.
im glad they looking at our sites as the south east can’t take any more.
somewhere like Wales or up north to give Job opportunities would be better where there is more space. I’m sure they been proposing Kent for 10 years so I wouldn’t think it get built anytime soon

The failed theme park in Kent wasn't Universal.

As the BBC site noted
"Paramount Pictures had granted LCRH (London Resort Company Holdings) license to create rides based on its films but the partnership ended in 2017.

Paramount Licensing Inc petitioned the High Court to liquidate the company in October 2024.

LCRH owed Paramount £13.5m, according to court documents."

Paramount wasn't putting money in, and evidently LCRH couldn't find the funding.

Universal's plans are entirely unrelated.

No it's Universal not Disney

Green spaces don't have to be accessible to people to be of benefit...

This thread is an example of why nothing gets done in Little Britain. Because there are too many little islanders with small minds that don’t want any development, but want a thriving economy. Basically they just want handouts from the magic money tree without an economic activity. Sad. And stupid.

We live in Bedford too and overall are pleased about this development. However we are in the north of the town, on the other side of the river. If I lived in Wixams, like the OP, I might be a bit less enthusiastic.

What about them?

If they don’t like it, they can move. It has to be built somewhere.

I would be worried but I'm told I'm a worrier.
If I sat back and thought about it, I'd probably realise that the gains will outweigh the losses. Yes, house prices will rise, but once you sell youll be able to afford a bigger house elsewhere.

No, it doesn’t ‘have’ to be built. We don’t need a theme park. We can easily live without it.

And don’t be daft. It’s not as easy to uproot lives, kids, move house as you make out. And why should people who live there have to make that choice?