Universal Great Britain

[BBPH]

 

[rob@rar]

Sounds like a step forward for the planning process, although perhaps not relevant to Universal’s plans as the previous government (and the current one, I assume) have bypassed the traditional planning process for USGB by taking the unprecedented step of opting for a Special Development Order for the site. This bypasses any local authority decision-making, bypasses the process for National Infrastructure Projects, instead putting Ministers in charge of taking the decision. I think this is altogether faster and more streamlined than any other way of considering Universal’s plans.

 

[Altonsky]

Could we have a political Britain forum so we can keep this focused on actual news about the (hopefully) coming theme park.

I know I’m brining in a fair bit of political discussion but this is an inherently political project and we’re all at the mercy of their political decisions when it comes to this project.

 

[rob@rar]

Bedford have been given the hurry-up by the National Planning Inspectorate to make progress on their local economic development plan (arising from the new government’s push to get planning on the move, as seen in the letters above). Obviously the Universal plans have a direct bearing on Bedford’s local plan, including what houses might be built on the land owned by Universal, which is acknowledged by the Planning Inspector. But as Bedford can’t directly impact the Universal plans it leaves them in a tough spot. Ministers need to take a decision on the theme park, then Bedford can move on its local plan.

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

I mean I guess he could just be lying and playing politics and doesn’t want to represent the Labour Government as being intransigent but seems like positive progress.

 

[Doug88]

Reeves is paving the way for tax rises. If that's true USGB could be in trouble.

 

[bedfordmassive]

Reeves is paving the way for tax rises. If that's true USGB could be in trouble.

Yeah, a bit of extra top rate income tax, tax on private school fees and inheritance tax increase will make it absolutely impossible to operate a theme park. We might as well just close down the country. Universal can choose a low tax country like Disney did for their European theme park.

 

[Mike2024]

I don't like having to defend Labour (nor the Tories or any other party), but let's see what actually happens before slating them. There's been a few posts dismissing the whole project because of them, without merit so far. I'd rather see less partisan politics here, until it's relevant at least.

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

This definitely reads as a positive development, Who’ll be attending that community meeting If/ When it happens?

 

[rob@rar]

Whose newsletter is that from? Bedford Council, one of the parishes, the mayor? Like other comments we’ve seen from people close to the process, the election has delayed things but longer term everyone expects this to go ahead. Thank goodness they are not reading some of the hand-wringing comments in this thread…

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

Whose newsletter is that from? Bedford Council, one of the parishes, the mayor? Like other comments we’ve seen from people close to the process, the election has delayed things but longer term everyone expects this to go ahead. Thank goodness they are not reading some of the hand-wringing comments in this thread…

Stewartby/ Kempston Hardwick Council Newsletter as shared on ‘We Want Universal Studios in Bedfordshire’ Facebook Group

 

[yepthatguy]

Stewartby/ Kempston Hardwick Council Newsletter as shared on ‘We Want Universal Studios in Bedfordshire’ Facebook Group

Thanks for the info Luke.

I checked out the Facebook page and saw someone from Wixams had posted a letter from Network rail with the site works start dates for the train station..! Which I think is great news.

 

[leavesonthelawn]

View attachment 23065This definitely reads as a positive development, Who’ll be attending that community meeting If/ When it happens?

I'll be there

 

[Lost Meerkat]

The Facebook group, "we want Universal Studios in Bedford" reported about five days ago that a dozen vehicles and numerous people were around the Broadmead Farm area, from a company called "Actavo" Homepage

Not sure if this means anything, the company appears to be involved in a variety of things from events to infrastructure. Has anyone else seen anything?

 

[yepthatguy]

The Facebook group, "we want Universal Studios in Bedford" reported about five days ago that a dozen vehicles and numerous people were around the Broadmead Farm area, from a company called "Actavo" Homepage

Not sure if this means anything, the company appears to be involved in a variety of things from events to infrastructure. Has anyone else seen anything?

If that’s definitely the website for the company that was seen on site, then they have a projects page like you say. Quite a number were for “modular buildings” and “network and in-home”.

{title}

Browse through range of case studies, showcasing Actavo's capabilities across all our services in all locations.

actavo.com

Camp Bedford is on!!

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

If that’s definitely the website for the company that was seen on site, then they have a projects page like you say. Quite a number were for “modular buildings” and “network and in-home”.

{title}

Browse through range of case studies, showcasing Actavo's capabilities across all our services in all locations.

actavo.com

Camp Bedford is on!!

I’d assume that potentially they’d be involved in setting up on-site temporary offices at a push, I could be entirely wrong though

 

[rob@rar]

I’d assume that potentially they’d be involved in setting up on-site temporary offices at a push, I could be entirely wrong though

According to Universal's information pack published back in April, the land identified as the "Western Gateway" near Broadmead Road included an "indicative location" of a contractors compound for the first phase of construction.