Universal UK theme park may rival Disneyland Paris in measurement | EUROtoday

Universal Studios’ UK theme park was given the inexperienced gentle this week, a call creating buzz for households up and down the nation who would possibly someday need to go.

After months of discussions, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed gave planning permission for the park to be constructed in Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford.

This is not simply one other attraction – it is an try by the US leisure large to construct one of many greatest theme parks on the earth.

Universal talked about in planning paperwork {that a} nation just like the UK ought to have a minimum of two international theme parks, and this mission was described as a “generational opportunity”.

But can Universal pull off one thing of fairly this scale, going up in opposition to the likes of Disneyland Paris? As BBC News heard from locals, it is likely to be a tall order – and never everyone seems to be completely happy.

“They haven’t bought enough land; what they should be buying is 2,000 acres somewhere and put their theme park in the middle,” says Claudia Pixley, 46, who lives in a bungalow on the street the place the theme park entrance shall be constructed.

“But as it happens, some of these roads around here are tiny village roads.

“Anything goes unsuitable on the M1 or the A421, this entire space is at a standstill… and you then need to put Universal Studios in the course of that.”

She describes the mission as “absolute insanity” and says representatives of Universal have approached her about buying her home, where she’s lived for the last decade, but she wants to stay put in her “little slice of Eden”.

She may well be one of few people in the area unhappy about the new park. According to Universal, in the Bedford area 92% of those who responded to its survey of 6,000 people were supportive of the development.

But it raises an interesting point about what might and might not be achievable in the grand vision for Universal UK to rival some of the biggest and best current theme parks.

Slated to open by 2031, the park is expected to draw 8.5 million annual visitors and could feature the tallest rides seen in Europe. The total size of the resort would be 268 hectares (662 acres), with the theme park 96.7 hectares (238 acres).

By comparison, Disneyland Paris is by several estimates just under 52 hectares (130 acres), though some of Disney’s other parks worldwide are far larger.

Universal said its UK visitor numbers were expected to rise to 12 million by 2051, which could make it the most-visited park in Europe by today’s standards. According to Forbes, Disneyland Paris held that title last year with 10.2 million visitors.

However, even at opening, 8.5 million is more than three times the attendance of the UK’s biggest parks today:

• Legoland Windsor Resort, Berkshire: 61 hectares (150 acres), 2.42 million annual visitors (2023)
• Alton Towers, Staffordshire: 222 hectares (550 acres), 2.35 million annual visitors (2023)
• Thorpe Park, Surrey: 200 hectares (490 acres), 1.62 million annual visitors (2023)
• Chessington World of Adventures Resort: 52 hectares (128 acres), 1.5 million annual visitors (2022)

For content creator Theme Park Kate, who specialises in theme parks and attractions on TikTok, Universal’s future attraction could be “an enormous sport changer inside Europe” and the ambition with its size and rides is realistic.

“It will doubtlessly be a theme park that may compete with the recognition of Disneyland Paris, which has dominated the European theme park market for a few years now,” she tells BBC News.

The theme park fan speculated that the park would benefit from using intellectual property (IP) that has not been used at other locations around the world.

She provides: “Harry Potter has been performed now at numerous Universal parks, however a brand new IP just like the rumoured James Bond or Lord of the Rings shall be distinctive to the park and usher in a considerable amount of followers that can need to see these model new experiences for themselves for the very first time.”

Last year, a source told the BBC that the new park could include James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, Paddington and Jurassic World-themed rides – although a Universal spokesperson said it was too early to confirm this.

Theme Park Kate is hopeful this could have a ripple effect of boosting the country’s existing parks and forcing them to “step up their sport” to match Universal.

YouTuber Jack Silkstone, who visits theme parks around the world, agrees with the sentiment. He lives “subsequent door” to Thorpe Park – and his message to any unhappy Bedford residents like Claudia is that living on the doorstep of a theme park is “truthfully a dream”.

“Everyone has some type of connection to the park – whether or not they work there themselves, they know somebody that works there, they love to go to, or they aspire to work on the park once they’re older,” he says.

“It creates an actual sense of group that then spills out into the broader surrounding cities.”

Jack sees the projected scale of the Universal UK park as a huge oportunity for the UK’s economy, and seems confident that the company can pull off its aims for scale.

“We’re very fortunate, we have some superb, basic theme parks already on this nation. But Universal are international leaders within the theme park trade; they do it completely different.”

Universal said it expected to directly create 8,050 jobs when it opens, with many staff coming from the surrounding areas.

Wixams, a town which will border the new theme park, will also get an upgraded four-platform railway station as part of the proposals.

Despite the concern expressed by some like Claudia that the area may not be able to cope with an influx of visitors, Bedford borough councillor Marc Frost says councillors have been assured that traffic surveys are complete and road infrastructure will be in place.

Universal’s engagement with local officials suggested they “genuinely need to work and get on with their neighbours”, he adds.

Another consideration for those in the local area is property prices – and some could fare better than others here, too.

Nick Kier, a partner at Lane & Holmes estate agents, says he already knows of some people who have already bought property close to the Universal site, which they plan to rent out to visitors in the future.

He explains “there are particular winners and losers on this state of affairs” and “you can not count on, with that quantity of funding coming in… that the costs will not go up”.

“The people who find themselves dwelling right here for a totally different cause will discover it costlier… That’s the dropping facet.”

At the same time, he acknowledges that local hotels for miles would be likely to benefit.

What’s clear is that the Universal park may dwarf a lot of its competitors if all goes to plan, and whereas the impacts is usually a double-edged sword, many are eager to see what its opening brings.