Universal Great Britain - Speculation & Rumors

[Scott W.]

Another property bought:

Disney should buy up one of the last homes. Put a grumpy old man in there who refuses to be moved out of his home. Then on opening day of USGB, have the house release thousands of balloons.

 

[tommyhawkins]

I kinda lost track, but are we down to just 4 houses left on Manor Rd not sold?

Is that specifically the 17 properties they said all need to be sold before they'll develop the expansion, because people have been talking about other houses that don't really impact anything? Having said that developing or not, its kinda moot since the new manor road is pushed way further south

 

[Alicia]

Is that specifically the 17 properties they said all need to be sold before they'll develop the expansion, because people have been talking about other houses that don't really impact anything? Having said that developing or not, its kinda moot since the new manor road is pushed way further south

Yes, I was under the impression it’s 4 left of of those. (But I am not sure as I haven’t been following recent sales too closely so may have counted the last one twice.)

 

[xtpower]

Saw this the other day:
I'm not up on the big Imagineers/Creatives but seems he's a new Theme Park guy so is there a high chance we get him part of UGB? Very exciting if we do.

 

[EllieB]

They were certainly advertising for a senior creative lead for the UK project a little while ago, so it would seem logical that could be the job he's got.

 

[masekwm]

I am talking about the 17 on the road, the ugly cottages all the way down to Askern House with the moat in the garden - as those have have their own analysis in the application

I've seen no further updates to the one I posted above, here

There is a new registration for this site today, but this was simply due to the haulage company buying the buildings on the site they occupy. To protect a pending: Purchase. In favour of: G MOORE HAULAGE LIMITED

 

[masekwm]

I don’t know why Universal hasn’t built a direct route back onto the A421 to go East. That for me would have covered all options.

Hopefully I’m wrong haha.

It was said at the Stewartby meeting that this was included in the pack, I've not looked into this in detail.

 

[xtpower]

With impeccable timing @ProjectUniversal has unearthed another Manor Road sale.



Go to Project Universal | Bedford for all the details.

 

[yepthatguy]

It was said at the Stewartby meeting that this was included in the pack, I've not looked into this in detail.

To be fair I actually overlooked a detail. If someone wanted to get to the A1 Black Cat they could turn right to Marsh Leys as I initially mentioned, but could also go left instead but not joining the A421 towards the M1, instead take the ‘old’ A421 road down to the Marston Moretaine services junction then join the A421 going back on yourself East.

It may be this was universals plan to send people via local routes to disperse the traffic, but I haven’t found any clear wording either.

 

[masekwm]

With impeccable timing @ProjectUniversal has unearthed another Manor Road sale.

View attachment 27523

Go to Project Universal | Bedford for all the details.

Number 5 has been boarded up for a couple of months, it is the only one of the houses on that next block that show any sign of being sold. We know that another has since had it's sale agreed but I won't speculate on which that is.

 

[Doug88]

I would love for this park to be built. But second best prize would be for affordable housing to be built and the houses nearby to lose value. I mean in the case of nimbys getting their own way.

 

[MangoDance]

I would love for this park to be built. But second best prize would be for affordable housing to be built and the houses nearby to lose value. I mean in the case of nimbys getting their own way.

They are being offered fair value I would imagine, so it's less likely to be greed, and more they just really don't want to move as they are happy there, or isn't a better alternative nearby for them even if they get above market value.

It's super easy to get frustrated at people making the process more difficult, my inner child cannot understand how anybody would not being excited and helping this to proceed, but then you have to reframe as, well, how would I feel if they wanted to build the worlds largest bingo hall, or something else I have zero benefit/excitement for, right next to my home.

The best outcome is that Universal listen to why they don't want to sell and help them, which will probably equate to a combination of offering them more money, and giving them a non-threatening best case scenario and plan for if they did refuse to sell, i.e. noise, traffic, etc.

 

[BBPH]

I would love for this park to be built. But second best prize would be for affordable housing to be built and the houses nearby to lose value. I mean in the case of nimbys getting their own way.

In the long term we will get more housing in response to this development.

Yes the affordable split will never be enough, but the site was on sale for a while and it wasn’t a bidding war between UNI and a local affordable housing developer.

 

[Altonsky]

I would love for this park to be built. But second best prize would be for affordable housing to be built and the houses nearby to lose value. I mean in the case of nimbys getting their own way.

Becoming like a bad case of the clap this

 

[JT01]

Ohh Doug88 is back....Yay

 

[rob@rar]

I think Universal’s official website has received a small update:

August 2025 Update​

The planning process facilitates open dialogue and feedback, and we appreciate Bedford Borough’s commitment to that process and continued support of our proposed development.

Since announcing our intent to proceed with this transformative project, subject to receiving the relevant planning consent approvals, strong interest and enthusiasm continues — including over 18,000 local residents, around 80 percent of whom live in Bedford or the surrounding regions, registering to receive job information, and around 2,000 suppliers expressing interest in working with us.

We are excited about the significant opportunities our planned project presents and remain fully committed to ensuring our SDO application is thoroughly vetted.

Seems oddly worded, why does Universal feel the need now to express appreciation in public for Bedford Council’s commitment to planning process and continued support for the development? Isn’t that something that everyone takes for granted?

 

[xtpower]

It never hurts to acknowledge the efforts and support provided by a partner.

 

[rob@rar]

It never hurts to acknowledge the efforts and support provided by a partner.

Agreed, but this seems oddly timed and a little bit clumsy. Just wondering what the motivation is for making that statement, at this point in time?

 

[rob@rar]

Perhaps related to Universal's update, or perhaps not, Bedford Council has published the committee papers for next week's extraordinary meeting of the full council which has been convened to consider the Council's draft response to the government's consultation on Universal's planning application. You can see the meeting papers here. The summary of the Counil's draft response is:

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDX; the applicants) have submitted a request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities

and Local Government (MHCLG) to grant planning permission under Section 59 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, for an

Entertainment Resort Complex (ERC) and associated development at the former brickworks and adjoining land in Kempston

Hardwick. MHCLG has been asked to consider granting planning permission by making a Special Development Order (SDO) for

the proposal, which will be determined by the Secretary of State for MHCLG.

1.2 The proposed development is divided into four main site areas referred to as the Core Zone, Lake Zone, West Gateway Zone, and

East Gateway Zone. The proposed ERC lying within these zones comprises a theme park and related uses including retail, dining,

entertainment, visitor accommodation; sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities; venues with conference and convention spaces;

associated services and uses for any operational or administrative functions.

1.3 Bedford Borough Council have been formally consulted by MHCLG as a statutory consultee in respect of the proposed

development.
1.4 The proposed response from the Council supports the project, citing several benefits, including transport and ecological


improvements. These include new vehicular and rail infrastructure, a habitats enhancement area for ecological restoration and

replanting, alongside employment and economic growth generation for local business and people. Design standards (Document

6.3.0), Environmental Controls (Document 6.16.0), Travel Plan (Document 4.5.6.0) and Proposed Conditions (Document 1.5.0) are

a few of the documents and plans that will control future development, whilst securing consistency during the development of the

site.

1.5 The response highlights a commitment by the Council to collaborate with UDX and HM Government, to collectively address any

construction and operational impacts as they arise and to jointly promote local employment opportunities.

1.6 Bedford Borough Council recognises that this is a project of national importance to the UK economy, and is supportive of the

benefits that this will bring, However, there are potentially valid concerns being raised by our communities, and our councillors as

their representatives, that the potential adverse impacts from the development need to be sufficiently mitigated as discussed above.

The Council recognises that the technical information contained within the application documents sets out these proposed

mitigations (to be controlled by conditions). The Council respectfully requests that there is sufficient safeguarding in place in order

that mitigation is secured by MHCLG. Universal Destinations & Experiences and Bedford Borough Council have committed, during

construction and operation to continue to work together to address impacts on the local transport network and local housing supply

through the proposed steering groups, Travel Plan, Travel Statements and Action Plans that are secured in the conditions and

controlling documents.

The committee papers stretch to over 100 pages (so more 'light reading' for those of us so inclined), but the Council is being asked to:

2.1 Full Council is asked to:

(i) Approve the consultation response to the Secretary of State MHCLG set out in Appendix E

(ii). Confirm the support for the development but acknowledging that there will be adverse impacts which will need to

be weighed against the significant benefits to the local areas and to the local, regional and national economy

(iii). Instruct the Chief Executive to write to DCMS to request consideration of:

(a) A financial support package to the Council to help mitigate resource needed to manage the local impacts of the

development including construction management, local transport plans and measures to manage the housing

market during construction

(b) Funding from relevant bodies to enable specific projects to maximise economic benefits and increase capacity

in the local health care system, housing offer and local infrastructure improvements, including active travel,

controlled parking to build on the significant opportunities derived from the proposed development

So, a clear endorsement from the Council for the project to go ahead, with attention required on mitigating as effectively as possible the construction and operational impacts of the proposed development on its immediate neighbours. Seems reasonable to me, and not at all a surprise.

 

[xtpower]

Agreed, but this seems oddly timed and a little bit clumsy. Just wondering what the motivation is for making that statement, at this point in time?

Was probably an offhand comment just to iterate support. It's a small blurb on the website, it's not overly important in the grand scheme of things.