Major update for huge new UK theme park as ‘ground broken’ – 'exciting' drone photos
The massive theme park is expected to generate nearly £50 billion for the economy by 2055, with 8.5 million visitors expected in its first year.
An eagle-eyed local has spotted what he believes is the first breaking of ground ahead of the construction of a major new theme park. The UK’s first Universal Studios is set to be built in Kempston Hardwick, close to Bedford, after planning permission was granted in December.
Dan Richards, 21, from Bedfordshire, said he saw a digger excavating a small area of the proposed site and captured the work on his drone. Dan, a theme park enthusiast who has been covering all the latest UK Universal Studios news on his ‘DigitalDan’ YouTube channel, said there has been “a lot of progress” at the site recently. He said there has been growing activity, with “various fences” installed.
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He told the Express: “Not only that but they’ve been digging away some of the ground for what I can only believe is the start of archaeological surveys, which is essential for them to do before starting major construction.
“Borehole testing has also been taking place across every part of the land they have acquired and all public footpaths have been closed off. I’m excited to see how quickly the project starts to unfold from here on out!”
He said workers are on site every day and he is “super excited” about the park which is set to become the UK’s largest visitor attraction.
The theme park is to be built on a former brickworks and field land. No ground breaking has been confirmed by Universal which the Express has contacted for comment.
Universal expects the site to generate nearly £50 billion for the economy by 2055, with 8.5 million visitors expected in its first year.
It is set to be one of the largest and most advanced theme parks in Europe, bringing nearly 20,000 jobs during the construction period, with a further 8,000 new jobs across the hospitality and creative industries when it opens in 2031.
The Government issued a Special Development Order (SDO) for the huge theme park to be constructed at the end of last year.
Universal had sought planning permission through the SDO, which allowed ministers to green-light the project directly and bypass standard local planning procedures, the BBC reported.
Responding to the planning permission, Universal said: “While there are still further steps to complete, including a statutory parliamentary review period, this decision represents another important milestone for the project.
“Our on-site activity will now gradually start to increase and we will share more information about project activity and construction in the new year.”
The SDO came into force on 12 January and reports have suggested construction was expected to begin in early 2026.
Universal theme parks contain rides and attractions from its stable of big blockbusters and movie franchises, which includes Minions, ET and Jurassic Park, as well as Kung Fu Panda, Fast & Furious and Shrek.
The total size of the resort is expected to be 662 acres, with the theme park area 238 acres.
Universal said the park could include the tallest rides in Europe, while its location has been described as “ideal” by Universal, with fast rail links to London and the nearby Luton Airport which is being expanded.
