Overview
- On Wednesday, June 3, Universal and UK ministers unveiled the resort’s official name and logo at a site visit that marked the start of enabling works and the promise that full construction will begin soon.
- Comcast NBCUniversal has pledged more than £5 billion for construction plus £1 billion of capital in the first decade of operation, and the UK government has pledged £1.3 billion for regional and community infrastructure.
- The project is targeted to open in 2031 and is expected to create about 20,000 construction jobs and 8,000 permanent roles, for a combined total of roughly 28,000 jobs across construction and operation.
- Planned transport upgrades to the A421 and Wixams station are budgeted at about £474 million, and two government grants — a £400 million Regional Growth Fund award and a £438 million DCMS grant — will only be paid after required community infrastructure is completed and the resort opens.
- The 540‑acre Kempston Hardwick site near Bedford will host a full theme park, a 500‑room hotel and a retail and entertainment district, and Universal projects millions of annual visitors and a near‑£50 billion economic boost for the UK by 2055.