A HOLLYWOOD giant has unveiled plans for a theme park open every day of the year and possibly even getting its own little train.
The venue will be the first of its kind to open in Britain and will boost the economy by as much as £50 billion.
New details about the exciting idea have recently emerged as Universal Destinations and Experiences gears up for the attraction.
The company – which is owned by Sky parent group Comcast – last year bought a 476 hectare site on a former brickworks in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire.
It has proposed building a large theme park resort on the site and has entered into dialogue with local residents and the government.
A new report commissioned by Universal found that construction of the project would employ 20,000 people jobs in the long term, with 5,000 employees on site at its peak.
Once operational, the resort would initially create 8,000 new people jobs in a range of roles.
The research also found that the project would deliver a boost of more than £49 billion to the regional and wider UK economy.
This included a contribution of £35.1 billion during the construction process and the first twenty years of operation.
It was also expected to generate up to £14.1 billion in additional cash returns for the Treasury over the same period.
The park will be open 365 days a year, like the group’s other global resorts.
Page Thompson, president of new ventures for Universal Destinations and Experiences, said: “A world-class theme park and resort from Universal could bring billions of dollars in economic benefit to the UK.”
She added that this can be achieved by “creating thousands of high-quality jobs and attracting millions of new visitors to the country”.
The company participated in a month-long public engagement process for its plans starting in early April.
It is understood that Universal is likely to apply directly to the government for planning permission through a special development order later this year.
If it goes ahead, construction of the site will likely take at least five years.
According to the 16-page document, the new site could include this functions like a hotel, a retaildining and entertainment zone, as well as a lake zone, a restoration zone and a landscaped area.
The landscape design will aim to reduce the resort’s “visual impact” on the surrounding area.
As stated in the proposal, rides, attractions and buildings in the theme park would be placed at a maximum height.
They wrote: “The maximum height of any component would be 115 metres, while the highest habitable floor of any building would be limited to 75 metres.”
Specific rides and attractions will be confirmed at a later stage, with the theme park adding: “We recognize the huge excitement that our theme parks and developments bring, but it is too early in the process to fully understand the capabilities of the featured attractions and experiences.”
The proposal does suggest that the Bedford theme park could get its own Citywalk.
Citywalk is an entertainment and retail space typically located near a theme park.
They added: “Entry to CityWalk does not require a ticket, and this is where visitors and the local community can come for a unique
culinary experience, with theme restaurants such as our Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen,
at CityWalk Orlando.
“CityWalk’s themed experiences are very different from typical entertainment and therefore are not direct competitors to the
leisure opportunities that you experience in a city center or in the shopping streets.”
The theme park giant is also planning to build hotels on its resort site – although they will not attempt to compete with accommodation providers in Bedford.
If the plans go ahead, there will also be a new train station.
While Wixams railway station will be built on the Midland Main Line, a new station will also be built on the East West Rail line in close proximity to the resort.
Opening days of major British theme parks
Alton Towers – 273 days a year
Thorpe Park – Closes during winter
Paultons Park – Closed throughout January, but also partially closed in February, March, October, November and December.
It comes as a theme park dubbed the ‘best in Europe’ by mums unveiled plans for a brand new attraction next one year.
The Efteling, opened in 1952, is a fairytale theme park in the Netherlands.
The 180-hectare theme park is often called the Dutch Disneyland, while some mothers even say it is the best theme park in Europe.
In the upcoming attraction, a new ‘royal gazebo’ will be found between the Troll King and Mother Hollow’s well.
The Princess and the Pea is the 31st fairy tale that can be seen in the Fairytale Forest.
Work will start this fall and the opening is scheduled for spring 2025.
It has proposed building a large theme park resort on the site and has entered into dialogue with local residents and the government.
A new report commissioned by Universal found that construction of the project would create 20,000 job losses jobs in the long term, with 5,000 employees on site at its peak.