Universal Great Britain - Construction Updates

[Jake S]

This thread is for construction updates about Universal Great Britain. Please keep speculation and general discussion here.

 

[masekwm]

Here are some of the site in 2025, prior to any construction occuring:



Previously farmland, it is currently being farmed by contractors rather than the resident farmer.



The concrete slab was a former brickworks, has had previous applications for a business park and storage of modular buildings.



It is expected that the houses on Manor Road will be demolished for development, several are now empty



Vine Cottages on Manor Road, are expected to be demolished, the previous owner had planned to demolish these to build two large homes on the site, it is expected this will allow for Manor Road to be slightly straightened.



For several weeks now, test drilling has been occurring on the site by Endeavor Drilling

 

[Jake S]

Great photos, thanks for sharing! Any idea what kind of crops were previously farmed on the site?

 

[masekwm]

Great photos, thanks for sharing! Any idea what kind of crops were previously farmed on the site?

Afraid not, I know it was Class C Agriculture land, so the lowest that we have in Eastern England but what was there before is a mystery, I used to drive by and take no notice of the land. When I first filmed the site in April 2024 this was what I saw:



By July 24, the trenching had occurred and I'm not sure anything was planted last year.

 

[masekwm]

 

[GAcoaster]

The fact that they have been growing crops there is a good sign. Unlike the Epic site which needed a ton of remediation from years of toxic fuel and other chemicals when it was Martin Marrieta's test site, most of the ground there is safe. I can't imagine the brick works would have left too much toxic residue in the soil aside from coal ash.

 

[yepthatguy]

Great photos, thanks for sharing! Any idea what kind of crops were previously farmed on the site?

I’m not certain but it’s usually wheat / barley / potatoes / onions.

Can always smell the onion harvests!

 

[yepthatguy]

Planning permission has gone in on land between Universals Lake Zone and the Interchange Retail Park it seems.

I wonder if it will have a Chick-fil-A

Bedford area with four drive-through cafes could see more added

A planning application for business units and drive-through restaurants is being considered.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[yepthatguy]

Wixams station build officially “paused”.

Does this mean it’s pushed back the overall station completion date?

Before universal confirmed the go ahead, the council were building it anyway, now they have stopped.

2031 for the Wixams station?

Mayor presses pause on Wixams station to make way for Universal upgrade - Bedford Independent

Bedford’s mayor has agreed to formally terminate the borough council’s agreement with Network Rail to build a new two-platform station...

www.bedfordindependent.co.uk

 

[EllieB]

Is that because they need to wait for the official "yes" to universal to agree the building of the larger, high capacity station?

 

[masekwm]

Is that because they need to wait for the official "yes" to universal to agree the building of the larger, high capacity station?

Partially, plus land purchases needed and they have to rerun the design, development stopped months ago at the station so this is just a dot of the i.

The new station is now due for completion in 2031, think it’s now 16 years late

 

[EllieB]

For a British rail project that's almost ahead of schedule.

 

[yepthatguy]

It mentions demobilisation by the end of August. They’re tidying up and going home.

I’m interested when work will actually recommence. From a plan I saw, the Wixams side of the station was staying the same anyway.

Larger Wixams railway station planned for nearby Universal park

The council terminates the plan for a two-platform station near Bedford.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[havaska]

I’d like to hope that the new train station with four platforms will have a more ‘Universalesque’ design to it than the two platform station they were building. Think Disneyland Hong Kong train station.

It’s going to become one of the main gateways into the resort so I would expect a much grander station with more facilities such as coffee shops, a pub etc.

I await the new design with anticipation!

 

[yepthatguy]

I’d like to hope that the new train station with four platforms will have a more ‘Universalesque’ design to it than the two platform station they were building. Think Disneyland Hong Kong train station.

It’s going to become one of the main gateways into the resort so I would expect a much grander station with more facilities such as coffee shops, a pub etc.

I await the new design with anticipation!

I can imagine the Universal side will be fully themed and awesome, it’s the Wixams side of the station that I’m unsure about - if that side is meant to serve the non Universal guests, why not carry on and then universal just extend on their land, when they get round to it.

 

[LieutLaww]

It mentions demobilisation by the end of August. They’re tidying up and going home.

I’m interested when work will actually recommence. From a plan I saw, the Wixams side of the station was staying the same anyway.

Larger Wixams railway station planned for nearby Universal park

The council terminates the plan for a two-platform station near Bedford.

www.bbc.co.uk

I was reading the BBC article about it and they have to go back and draw up a new plan for the station to accommodate 4 tracks, once that is done and is all agreed by British Rail, councils etc work will recommence.

 

[yepthatguy]

I was reading the BBC article about it and they have to go back and draw up a new plan for the station to accommodate 4 tracks, once that is done and is all agreed by British Rail, councils etc work will recommence.

I thought they might have tried to open the Wixams side before 2031, as no doubt having a train station with London links will make Wixams much busier, which was going to happen anyway.

I guess like it says redesigns are taking place, maybe we’ll hear more in the next 12 months.

 

[LieutLaww]

I believe the plan is for Wixams to be open just before if possible