News of the major project made headlines on April 8 after it was revealed by Bedford Council that the scheme “has received agreement in principle from the Government to move forward, pending planning approval”.
The plans include an entertainment resort complex with a theme park and several themed lands under Universal’s renowned branding and more, with an opening date estimated in 2031.
It is believed that the project will generate nearly £50 billion of economic benefit to the UK with thousands of new jobs, 80 per cent of which are expected to be filled by job seekers from Bedford and surrounding areas.
According to Universal, the Bedford site “is an ideal location with convenient, fast rail links to London and London Luton Airport”.
However, the project was not always destined for Bedford and was at one stage considered to open near Rainham Marshes.
The marshland and former firing range is more than three times the size of the Bedford plot, which spans roughly 476 acres.
Music Corporation of America (MCA), predecessors to Universal, had identified the marshes as a potential site while also considering to build the theme park near Paris in the late 1980s.
The prospect was exciting to a majority, but sparked concern for species and animals living at the marshes from Essex Naturalists Trust.
In 1993 the plans to build in Rainham were axed.
In an interview with Variety, president of MCA Enterprises International Frank Stanek said: “The British project became unfeasible.
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“The British government wasn’t able to do enough fiscally to make the project interesting.
“The French are very well organised in that field and are very good at supporting projects which involve new towns like Melun Senart.”
The plans for a French theme park also fell away at a later date.
