17th Dec 2025 09:14
(Alliance News) - The UK government has granted planning permission for the construction of the first Universal Studios theme park in Europe.
Steve Reed, secretary of state for Housing, Communities & Local Government granted the permission by means of a special development order, which bypasses local planning procedures. The order was made on Monday and put before Parliament on Tuesday.
Plans for the theme park had been announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Universal Studios back in April. The resort will be built around a former brickworks at Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford, north of London. It is expected to open in 2031.
The resort is expected to receive about 55,000 visitors on peak days, according to the BBC. Rides themed on James Bond, Paddington bear and The Lord of the Rings could feature, a "source close to the project" told the television broadcaster.
By Tom Waite, Alliance News editor
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