Danny Fullbrook
BBC Information, Bedfordshire
Common Studios / Comcast
A brand new Common theme park can be inbuilt the United Kingdom, the federal government has showed.
It’ll be built at the website of the previous Kempston Hardwick brickworks close to Bedford and is anticipated to generate 28,000 jobs sooner than it opens in 2031.
Common estimated the 476-acre complicated may draw in 8.5 million guests in its first 12 months and generate £50bn for the United Kingdom financial system by way of 2055.
High Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the muti-billion-pound funding by way of the corporate would “see Bedford house to probably the most largest leisure parks in Europe, firmly hanging the county at the world degree”.
Common Locations and Enjoy mentioned 80% of the ones hired within the new jobs can be from Bedfordshire and the encircling spaces.
Common, which produced movies comparable to Minions and Depraved, lately has theme parks in Orlando and Los Angeles in america, in addition to Osaka, Japan, Sentosa, Singapore, and Beijing, China.
The park would be the first Common-branded vacation spot in Europe.
Secretary of State for Tradition, Media and Recreation Lisa Nandy mentioned: “This landmark funding is improbable information for our financial system, for UK tourism and for the British public, who will be capable of benefit from the largest and very best theme park in Europe on their doorstep.”
A complete making plans proposal can be submitted to the United Kingdom govt with development anticipated to start out in 2026.
PA Media
Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the park would generate jobs and give a boost to the financial system
The top minister added: “That is our Plan for Alternate in motion, combining native and nationwide expansion with growing round 28,000 new jobs throughout sectors comparable to development, synthetic intelligence and tourism.
“It’s not with reference to numbers; it is about securing actual alternatives for folks in our nation. In combination, we’re construction a brighter long term for the United Kingdom, getting folks into paintings and making sure our financial system stays sturdy and aggressive.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves added: “At a time of world alternate, this funding is a vote of self belief in Britain as a spot to do trade.
“Common’s funding will convey billions to the financial system and create hundreds of jobs to the United Kingdom, hanging extra money in folks’s wallet.”
In step with plans from Common Locations & Reports the United Kingdom website would come with a theme park, a 500-room resort and a retail complicated.
Those proposals stay topic to a making plans determination from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Govt.
Common has already purchased 476 acres for the undertaking, however may purchase extra land to extend the plot to about 700 acres, which might allow it to hyperlink the website with delivery routes.
Citizens residing in surrounding villages have answered definitely to the plans, although some are involved infrastructure may not be sufficient to toughen the volume of anticipated guests.
Common mentioned it surveyed greater than 6,000 native folks and organisations and 92% of the ones supported the undertaking.
Getty Photographs
Common has parks in every single place the arena together with the most recent, Epic Universe, in Orlando
Common mentioned it might make upgrades to the Wixams railway station and construct a brand new station at the East West Rail line close to the hotel.
It’ll additionally upload new devoted slip roads to the A42, which flooded in October after heavy rainfall.
The federal government has mentioned it’s going to decide to making an investment in infrastructure that helps the undertaking and makes it extra obtainable.
On Thursday Secretary of State for Shipping Heidi Alexander licensed growth plans at London Luton Airport.
Common had prior to now described the Bedford website as “a perfect location with handy, rapid rail hyperlinks to London and London Luton Airport”.
Common Studios / Comcast
Common Locations and Reports showed it bought Bedfordshire land in December 2023
Mike Cavanagh, the president of Comcast Company, which owns Common, mentioned he used to be excited to make bigger the parks logo into Europe.
He mentioned: “We respect the management and toughen of High Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Minister for Funding Poppy Gustafsson, Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy and their groups, as we paintings in combination to create and ship an improbable new landmark vacation spot.”
The corporate mentioned it’s going to paintings with Bedford Borough Council at the undertaking.
The native authority used to be one in all six councils to toughen the plans final 12 months, along Central Bedfordshire, Luton Borough, Milton Keynes Town, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire councils.
