Universal Great Britain

[Lost Meerkat]

Removal company at houses this morning. Not sure which number.

 

[rob@rar]

Local MP Blake Stephenson, (Con., Mid Bedfordshire) whose patch includes the Universal site, secured a debate earlier today in Westminster Hall (the second debating chamber in the House of Commons) to discuss tourism in Bedfordshire. Inevitably he talked about Universal's proposals, amongst other topics in the brief debate. The Minister who responded to the debate was Chris Bryant, Minister for Tourism in the DCMS. I think Bryant is the lead Minister for the negotiations with Universal. Unsurprisingly he didn't say anything of consequence, his main point was:

Obviously, I cannot enter into the specifics of the ongoing discussions—that would be unhelpful to everybody—but I am hopeful that we will get to the significant and dramatic change that it would make, not only to visitor numbers in Bedfordshire but to the whole of the United Kingdom.

You can see the Hansard transcript of the debate here.

 

[rob@rar]

The President of Comcast said at the end of October that they were considering separating their cable TV business in to a separate company, possibly in advance of a sale. Hardly a surprise, those old linear broadcasting companies have struggled with newer ways of consuming content (eg, Paramount and WB/Discovery both have significant write downs of their corporate value in excess of $15Bn). So Comcast are looking at their options, which sounds entirely prudent, but this doesn't include Universal Studios the movie business, nor Universal Destinations and Experiences the theme park business.

Confirmation from Comcast that they are separating some of NBCUniversal's cable television networks (including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel) in to a new and separate publicly traded company to be called SpinCo. This will still be owned by Comcast, but gives them an easier way to sell those assets in the future should they so wish.

Please note: Comcast are not selling Universal Studios. They are not selling Universal Destinations and Experiences. And it has nothing to do with the election of President Trump. If anything this strengthens the position of US and UDX as they are no longer part of the company which includes underperforming assets such as those traditional cable TV networks. It will make it cheaper for Comcast to raise debt to build such things as major new theme parks if they don't have their old-fashioned cable business dragging down the company's fundamentals.

 

[yepthatguy]

Local news article.

Pretty much what you said Rob.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdj3pre7kp3o

 

[Altonsky]

So I was watching this video last night about the set design for Wicked, which was just amazing! All filmed here in the UK as well.



I think it’d make an amazingly immersive land if they could capture some of these amazing details.

 

[Steeb]

So I was watching this video last night about the set design for Wicked, which was just amazing! All filmed here in the UK as well.



I think it’d make an amazingly immersive land if they could capture some of these amazing details.

It did cross my mind when watching, I wonder if they chose so many physical sets so it helped them understand how best to build these into actual spaces in the parks later on.

 

[MangoDance]

If they can't get Harry Potter I could see Oz being pitched as a potential alternative, whizz university would even give them an option to keep the interactive wands.

 

[Legacy]

It did cross my mind when watching, I wonder if they chose so many physical sets so it helped them understand how best to build these into actual spaces in the parks later on.

They went practical because the director wanted practical and the producers supported that with the budget. I am certain the decision was made with no consideration for a theme park because Universal is not synergized in that way.

 

[rob@rar]

Perhaps of interest only to those curious about the political backdrop to Universal’s proposal, I read the speech given yesterday by the UK’s Tourism Minister, Chris Bryant MP, to the Tourism Alliance Conference. It does not reference Universal in any way, but if you read the speech I find it difficult to believe that the government could possibly let the proposed theme park fail to get off the ground, given how much Universal GB would contribute to the aims that Bryant set out.

 

[Disneyhead]

 

[Lost Meerkat]

There have been a couple of unmarked cars on the brickworks site most days this week, inside the gates, possibly surveyors or similar. No sign of any actual people but clearly something is still ticking over.

 

[Lost Meerkat]

I have discovered that the outline planning consent for the industrial zone in Wootton, opposite the proposed transport hub, includes potential provision of a pub and hotel, which is being reinforced with an update to the permissions submitted this week. I reckon they are keeping their powder dry and if/When Universal is a go, they will be looking to put up a Travel Inn type hotel. Also, I noticed building work has commenced on the Premier Inn in Kempston to expand the building.
All signs that other organisations are already looking at potential future opportunities.

 

[Altonsky]

Another user (LordOfDarkness) posted (post 1609) on towers street that EWR have released their latest public consultation docs.

Potential New Universal UK Park

There were also some other nice surprises for them in the budget, though, such as the permanent lowering of business rates for hospitality and leisure from 2026/27. Universal may also have negotiated some unique-to-them tax breaks, for all we know. We don’t know the details. Would they fall...

towersstreet.com

Section 9.1.

https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/50762a4465/EWR_2024_Con-Doc_v3.pdf

‘We are aware that Universal Destinations & Experiences is exploring the potential to develop a theme park and resort next to the Marston Vale Linenorth of Stewartby. The proposals for the Marston Vale Line presented in this consultation do not take account of the Universal development. We are discussing the proposals with Universal Destinations & Experiences andBedford Borough Council and considering the implications of the theme park and resort for the railway’

 

[rob@rar]

Is that an update to the proposals? I think we mentioned the original consultation report about three weeks ago when it was first published, noting that the plans didn't (yet) account for the proposed theme park development.

 

[Altonsky]

Ahh looks like the same thing. Must have missed that

 

[Lost Meerkat]

While some of the householders in Manor Road are being coy about what is going on, and reluctant, or refusing, to talk, I have heard, third hand but pretty reliably, that discussions are very much ongoing to buy all the residential properties. This snippet off Google maps shows all the properties that I am pretty confident are included. I guess some householders will stick their heels in for either a better deal, or until the project is confirmed by the Government and the alternative is to live right next door to a working theme park.

This does make me speculate if Universal may also want to do something about the commercial properties in the road, particularly the waste transfer site. The concrete mixing company may be worth having about during the construction, very convenient....

 

[JT01]

Looks like the decision date has been delayed again until march next year! I am starting to be slightly concerned now

 

[Doug88]

Looks like the decision date has been delayed again until march next year! I am starting to be slightly concerned now

I tell you they're waiting for the price of land to increase then selling it to make a quick profit.

 

[Lost Meerkat]

Looks like the decision date has been delayed again until march next year! I am starting to be slightly concerned now

While they are still actively trying to buy up houses in Manor Road, I am confident they are still progressing. This is all what you would expect

 

[JT01]

I tell you they're waiting for the price of land to increase then selling it to make a quick profit.

Universal would defiantly not do that, Its more to do with our rubbish government