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Universal United Kingdom Resort Named as Bedford Project Moves Toward Construction

A package of public transport and community grants complements a multi‑billion private investment designed to create jobs and boost local tourism.

Overview

  • On Wednesday senior Comcast and UK ministers unveiled the official name and logo and said enabling works are under way on the Bedford site with major construction set to begin soon.
  • Comcast NBCUniversal has pledged more than £5 billion for the expected five‑year build and a further £1 billion for the first decade of operation, while the UK government committed £1.3 billion for regional and local infrastructure.
  • The government’s £1.3 billion support is split into a £400 million Regional Growth Fund grant, a £438 million DCMS community infrastructure grant, and an expected £474 million Department for Transport package for A421 and Wixams upgrades.
  • Officials project roughly 28,000 jobs across construction and operations and estimate nearly £50 billion in economic benefit for the UK by 2055 but those figures are company and government projections that depend on delivery and demand.
  • The resort will sit on the former brickworks at Kempston Hardwick in Bedfordshire on about 540 acres, and plans include a full‑scale theme park with multiple immersive lands a 500‑room hotel and a retail and dining complex with a targeted 2031 opening.