Universal Great Britain

[rob@rar]

This is the briefing and contents of the speech that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will give later today in Oxford. As suggested by Bloomberg, no mention of Universal’s plans is being briefed.

 

[yepthatguy]

It’s shame about this planned HOP studios in one of the other Stewartby pits.

Plans for film studios in Stewartby halted as developer folds

The owner of the developer says it is in confidential talks regarding the development of the site.

www.bbc.co.uk

Maybe the land might become available for sale to others (Universal?), as I think there was planning permission approved for the full on production studios for HOP.

 

[LieutLaww]

I wonder if Universal has options on any other land ?

 

[JT01]

Speaking of land acquisition, does anyone know why they haven't purchased or included this particular parcel of land that I have highlighted in red for future expansion? It seems to me like it would make more sense than that narrow strip of land in the proposal leading to the motorway.

 

[rob@rar]

Speaking of land acquisition, does anyone know why they haven't purchased or included this particular parcel of land that I have highlighted in red for future expansion? It seems to me like it would make more sense than that narrow strip of land in the proposal leading to the motorway.

Is that parcel of land for sale?

 

[JT01]

Is that parcel of land for sale?

No idea, but I would’ve thought they’d be interested in it since it’s mostly just fields. Honestly, I’d hope they’d also consider purchasing the land where the warehouse is. Combined, that would offer a great-sized plot to create a real resort that would rival Disneyland Paris

 

[Altonsky]

Is that parcel of land for sale?

Everything is for sale with the right offer.

 

[rob@rar]

Everything is for sale with the right offer.

I guess, but not everything would make economic sense. I’m not expecting Universal GB to be a two-gate resort at any point in my lifetime, even though they already seem to have enough space with the land we know they have purchased. I’m not sure buying another large parcel of land (beyond what they currently own or have an option on) would be sensible. Disneyland Paris almost sank as a company because they built too much, too quick, especially vast numbers of hotel rooms. I’m sure Universal and the wider theme park industry paid close attention to that experience.

 

[JT01]

True, but you’ve got to think about future-proofing. Just look at Disneyland California—they’re pretty much landlocked now. I’m sure when they first proposed and built the park, they never imagined that would become an issue.

And what’s to stop someone else from purchasing that land and building on it?

 

[rob@rar]

True, but you’ve got to think about future-proofing.

Of course. An investment of this size needs careful consideration. What makes you think that Universal haven’t already committed to the amount of land they need for future-proofing?

There’s another parcel of land to the south of the site that they purchased which is, or at least was available for development and was actually owned by the company, Cloud Wing, that they purchased the land from that they now own. Why do you think Universal didn’t buy all of that land? I think it’s likely that some of the land that Universal own, probably the upper tract of the northern parcel of land, will be using for developing residential housing, which suggests to me they are well endowed with space. I suspect that Universal have a reasonable idea of their future land needs and are content with what they already have (including the option to acquire some more).

 

[Altonsky]

Why would they want housing that close when this country is notoriously full of NIMBYs

If anything I’d be buying land so housing couldn’t be built.

 

[bedfordmassive]

Set piece from Bedford MP to reassure:

 

[JT01]

Of course. An investment of this size needs careful consideration. What makes you think that Universal haven’t already committed to the amount of land they need for future-proofing?

There’s another parcel of land to the south of the site that they purchased which is, or at least was available for development and was actually owned by the company, Cloud Wing, that they purchased the land from that they now own. Why do you think Universal didn’t buy all of that land? I think it’s likely that some of the land that Universal own, probably the upper tract of the northern parcel of land, will be using for developing residential housing, which suggests to me they are well endowed with space. I suspect that Universal have a reasonable idea of their future land needs and are content with what they already have (including the option to acquire some more).

I get what you are saying I just wondered if anyone new the reason in which they are only outlying to purchase that thin strip of land and not the whole section of that field.

which land to the south have they purchased out of curiosity?

 

[Scott W.]

 

[Jake S]

finally, greggs getting its rightful place among the citywalk elite

 

[yepthatguy]

More of the same in local news today.

Government says Universal UK Bedfordshire resort talks continue

An update on the development will come in "due course", a minister says.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[rob@rar]

Why would they want housing that close when this country is notoriously full of NIMBYs

If anything I’d be buying land so housing couldn’t be built.

Couple of reasons I guess: first, it's financially attractive if they have more land than they need; and second, it helps Bedford Council meet their house building targets.

Disneyland Paris survived the first decade of so after they got in to financial difficulty by the returns on their real estate development, not by the money they (weren't really) making from tourism.

 

[rob@rar]

which land to the south have they purchased out of curiosity?

I don't think they have purchased any land to the south, even though there was a large parcel available (another former brickworks I believe). To me that suggests they've decided they don't need anything beyond what they already purchased or have an option on.

 

[bedfordmassive]

Worth noting from the speech yesterday was that there was specific focus on the Oxford-Cambridge Arc/supercluster (Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board | Creating a World-Leading Cluster) - Reeves: I am going further and faster to kick start the economy.

This is very relevant to Universal for a number of reasons:
1) Bedford is the poor relation in this. The chain of cities/towns goes Oxford - Milton Keynes - Bedford - Cambridge with Bedford the most underdeveloped (MK is full of tech and formula 1).

2) Various useful infrastructure projects will be accelerated for reasons other than Universal if OxCam becomes a big government drive - East West Rail, road improvements.

3) There's a target for 15k houses per year to be built if this is to be supported.

So, buying land will be increasingly competitive since sellers will have options. From a political perspective, people have been talking about OxCam for years and there is a degree of cynicism as to whether it actually gets meaningful central support. Universal kind of solves some problems there - demonstrable investment in the least developed part of the Arc with infrastructure improvements that also benefit the OxCam idea and will bring lots of ancillary businesses into the area.

 

[Altonsky]

Couple of reasons I guess: first, it's financially attractive if they have more land than they need; and second, it helps Bedford Council meet their house building targets.

Disneyland Paris survived the first decade of so after they got in to financial difficulty by the returns on their real estate development, not by the money they (weren't really) making from tourism.

Fair enough. I’m more of the opinion that Bedfords housing targets are a Bedford council issue, it’s not down to a private company that’s largely not a housing developer to help them out with that.

I also think the land could be put to better use than housing even if Universal don’t want/need it. The land should arguably be a leisure/entertainment hub and there could potentially be further leisure developments from other companies further down the line, these would be more suited to this area imo.