Universal Great Britain

[Altonsky]

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.

It’ll get central support but data centres and the like won’t be built here whilst we have some of the most expensive energy prices in the world. So unless Ed moves out the way and Labour change course temporarily it won’t ever reach its full potential and well once again squander a huge opportunity.

But on the whole it’s a huge thing for the area, seems the world revolves around Bedford atm.

 

[bedfordmassive]

"But on the whole it’s a huge thing for the area, seems the world revolves around Bedford atm."

Harks back to the Bedford Mayor's foreshadowing of Universal when announcing road improvemetns in December 2023 "It puts Bedford in the centre of the universe"

A428 upgrade makes Bedford 'centre of universe' says mayor

Work starts on a £950m upgrade of the A428, providing faster journeys between Bedford and Cambridge.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[rob@rar]

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.

I’d probably agree with you, but I don’t think that’s how Bedford sees it. Part of the land acquired by Universal had previously been identified by Bedford Council as a location for a new residential settlement. Since Universal’s purchase of that land, the Council has been in discussion with them to determine the extent to which residential development on the site might contribute to Bedford’s housing targets. It might be that the contribution is zero homes, there doesn’t seem to be any information which has leaked out on that. But we do know the discussion has been taking place.

 

[Chessy]

I don’t think it’s a good idea personally have homes too close. Be better if the council found alternative sites, but as said we have no idea if they actually want to do that at all yet.

 

[JT01]

Yeah odd choice to build homes right next door to possibly one of europe's largest theme park resorts, Commercial use makes more sense.

 

[ProjectUniversal]

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.

That chunk of land had an application to build a education campus on it but the application failed. As far as I know it has not been revisited and is dead in the water now but heres the rough plan for your viewing pleasure.

Also the land is not owned by the same guys Universal brought their land from.

 

[JT01]

That chunk of land had an application to build a education campus on it but the application failed. As far as I know it has not been revisited and is dead in the water now but heres the rough plan for your viewing pleasure.

Also the land is not owned by the same guys Universal brought their land from.

View attachment 24799

Arhh Interesting thanks for digging that out? So i am guessing this could potentially be land up for grabs then? be amazing if they did

 

[bedfordmassive]

Another non-update update from the Commons.

Translation for Americans:
Chappie #1 is Blake Stephenson, a conservative MP representing the area to the South of Bedford where UGB would be. He's ribbing the Labour MP for Bedford (Yassin, doesn't speak in clip but who tweeted the tweet), referencing that he (Yassin) has been campaigning so hard for a theme park that's actually over the border in Chappie #1's constituency (as if the impact respects lines on a map).

Chappie #2 is the Labour treasury minister Darren Jones responding to say no update yet and subtly ribbing Chappie #1 about how little his party did when in government.

It's actually a pretty decent microcosm of British politics.

 

[ProjectUniversal]

I went over site today to have a closer look at what has been done this past week.

 

[Lost Meerkat]

There has been a lot of activity on the old brickworks plot this week. Lots of concrete blocks (barriers?), Temporary fencing etc. Several lorry loads so far. Something is cooking. Photos on Facebook by
@ProjectUniversalUK and @UniversallyBedford

 

[Elijah Abrams]

View attachment 24779

Nice representation of what a CityWalk in Great Britain would feature! I can even sense a Pizza Express, a Costa Coffee, and a Pret a Manger in there somewhere. Regarding the cinema, it might end up being an Odeon or a Vue in the end, since Cineworld has been having financial problems lately, going bankrupt and filing for administration.

 

[randompixel]

As funny as it is to imagine chowing down on a Steak Bake whilst visiting, I bloody hope it doesn't end up like that. We don't need any more bog standard British chain restaurants that are found up and down the country in every retail park or town centre - we need unique or US offerings. I'd rather have a Voodoo Doughnuts than Greggs. I'd rather have an American-style diner, a decent steak restaurant or a clone of Toothsome, or even some unique concept.

 

[Scott W.]

As funny as it is to imagine chowing down on a Steak Bake whilst visiting, I bloody hope it doesn't end up like that. We don't need any more bog standard British chain restaurants that are found up and down the country in every retail park or town centre - we need unique or US offerings. I'd rather have a Voodoo Doughnuts than Greggs. I'd rather have an American-style diner, a decent steak restaurant or a clone of Toothsome, or even some unique concept.

I can't see it being anything like that.

It seems like Universal has been wanting to put it's own restaurants into CityWalk Orlando for a while and if the initial 'CityWalk' element at USGB is as small as I've heard, there might only be a few spaces available.

 

[Chessy]

I can't see it being anything like that.

It seems like Universal has been wanting to put it's own restaurants into CityWalk Orlando for a while and if the initial 'CityWalk' element at USGB is as small as I've heard, there might only be a few spaces available.

I hope it’s not too small otherwise there won’t be much point in dwelling a little longer after the park closes each day. Hopefully there’s a decent offering.

I don’t want to see any Greggs, Nando’s or Costa Coffee. That’s far too boring

 

[Scott W.]

I hope it’s not too small otherwise there won’t be much point in dwelling a little longer after the park closes each day. Hopefully there’s a decent offering.

I don’t want to see any Greggs, Nando’s or Costa Coffee. That’s far too boring

I don’t really see the point in there being anything outside the park at all. I can’t see locals going there and paying for the inevitable parking charge and I’d prefer the space was used for park things instead.

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

I don’t really see the point in there being anything outside the park at all. I can’t see locals going there and paying for the inevitable parking charge and I’d prefer the space was used for park things instead.

It’s not really intended for locals though, it’s to get extra £££ out of people who are staying on site… Although with them wanting to improve the surrounding infrastructure and the small space planned for City Walk, it might be easier to go elsewhere in the end? Who knows, We’ll see!

 

[yepthatguy]

Someone I know locally pointed out to me today that one of the houses on Manor Road had a microphone pointing out of the window.

Someone also posted it on the facebook page with photos for confirmation and some comical Dalek related comments.

I wonder what they were doing?

 

[JT01]

I don’t really see the point in there being anything outside the park at all. I can’t see locals going there and paying for the inevitable parking charge and I’d prefer the space was used for park things instead.

Can I ask how you came to the conclusion that it will be so small? From what we've seen, they've mentioned there will be four unique restaurants, in addition to chain restaurants and shops.

To be honest, there's not much going on in Bedford at the moment. A brand-new shopping and dining district with excellent transport links could easily draw many locals for an evening out, whether it’s for dinner or a night out, especially for families with kids. If I were a child living next to Universal with all its iconic IPs, I’d find it absolutely magical and would want to visit all the time.

Just because it doesn’t resonate with you personally doesn’t mean that thousands of locals won’t embrace it.

 

[BBPH]

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Just want everyone to know I have copyrighted the hashtag #ThanksBritain. Please direct all relevant hashtag royalties to me without their respective originating complaints.