Universal Great Britain

[Luke Hutchinson]

But an announcement that they’re going ahead and submitting planning applications whilst exciting isn’t necessarily a green light

A green light and the big PR thing would surely be shovels in the ground.

A commitment of funds for infrastructure changes essentially is a vote of confidence that the planning order done through the SDO process will be approved

 

[Dinosaurus]

Any sort of announcement, whether it's made tomorrow, next week or next month, won't be a, 'WE'RE DOING IT.' It's more likely to be something like, 'We've concluded our due diligence processes and will move on to the next stage in the planning process, which will be to submit plans and secure permission via an SDO,' or something along those lines. Then, in several weeks, the SDO may appear and there will be further local consultation meetings.

 

[rob@rar]

But an announcement that they’re going ahead and submitting planning applications whilst exciting isn’t necessarily a green light

A green light and the big PR thing would surely be shovels in the ground.

I think that's an important point. I'm not quite sure what people mean when they talk about "the announcement". Do they mean a glitzy presentation by the CEO of Comcast in front of assorted dignitaries, where they reveal some glossy park artwork? If that's what people are looking for I think we are months away from that, at the very least. I think what we'll get is confirmation (maybe a press release, maybe a minister doing an interview, maybe a statement or planted question in the House of Commons) that the government and Universal have agreed a financial support package for the proposed theme park, and that a formal planning application will now be assessed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government following statutory consultation. If approved that planning application will lead to a Statutory Instrument tabled in Parliament, leading to the approval of a Special Development Order. At that point Universal can actually start construction. None of that is very sexy, and doesn't lend itself to a glitzy media event by Universal, I think.

 

[ProjectUniversal]

They have been working on the website today, historically when they have done it, new details are announced in the following days.

 

[Altonsky]

I think that's an important point. I'm not quite sure what people mean when they talk about "the announcement". Do they mean a glitzy presentation by the CEO of Comcast in front of assorted dignitaries, where they reveal some glossy park artwork? If that's what people are looking for I think we are months away from that, at the very least. I think what we'll get is confirmation (maybe a press release, maybe a minister doing an interview, maybe a statement or planted question in the House of Commons) that the government and Universal have agreed a financial support package for the proposed theme park, and that a formal planning application will now be assessed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government following statutory consultation. If approved that planning application will lead to a Statutory Instrument tabled in Parliament, leading to the approval of a Special Development Order. At that point Universal can actually start construction. None of that is very sexy, and doesn't lend itself to a glitzy media event by Universal, I think.

Yeah that’s what I think is going to happen, a change of website info, a government statement that’s they’re moving onto the next steps.

But the whole PR won’t be for months. The amount of civil servants that must be working on this I assume the person that posted this information probably knows someone that side of things.

It’s exciting anyway, the next steps are the next steps but what they’ve said lines up with recent news articles and what’s just been posted by project universal on here about the website.

 

[Altonsky]

They have been working on the website today, historically when they have done it, new details are announced in the following days.

The stars are aligning

 

[tommyhawkins]

That makes sense to me. And if the UK government did want to make a bit of a good news story for the economy I'm not sure that making an announcement during a parliamentary recess is the smartest of moves. Many the political journalists will have planned to be away for family holidays as the scale of political announcements always tapers down during recess.

But an announcement that they’re going ahead and submitting planning applications whilst exciting isn’t necessarily a green light

A green light and the big PR thing would surely be shovels in the ground.

I guess my huge caveat with all of this is politically Starmer needs a win with the Tariff BS going on, and a multi-billion dollar investment into the UK being announced now will go a long way to shore him up politically and cement his growth agenda as well as UK PLC itself with all the markets and the confidence in long term stabile projects that survive a single presidential term.

 

[Altonsky]

I guess my huge caveat with all of this is politically Starmer needs a win with the Tariff BS going on, and a multi-billion dollar investment into the UK being announced now will go a long way to shore him up politically as well as UK PLC itself with all the markets that go with it.

That’d be nice and I agree to a certain extent but it’d be embarrassing if they did that and something holds up the process when they actually go through all the planning stuff.

I’d be more cautious. Announce they’re willing to support the infrastructure etc (which leans itself to their get Britain building mantra) whilst not having the glitzy press event until they’ve gone through that whole process.

I still think that would be a positive, especially with the Luton announcement last week.

 

[tommyhawkins]

That’d be nice and I agree to a certain extent but it’d be embarrassing if they did that and something holds up the process when they actually go through all the planning stuff.

I’d be more cautious. Announce they’re willing to support the infrastructure etc (which leans itself to their get Britain building mantra) whilst not having the glitzy press event until they’ve gone through that whole process.

I still think that would be a positive, especially with the Luton announcement last week.

Nothing will hold up the process. They are busy changing to the planning law to streamline the NSIP and other planning processes and get as much taken out of the courts and OTT stuff that has to happen with that as they can. They have the ability to call in stuff like this. its fine

 

[rob@rar]

Interesting snippet: Dr Sabrina Mittermeier, a German academic who is regarded as an expert in theme park history, was interviewed by the BBC last year about the proposed development, at the time when Universal held their public meetings. She has just said on Bluesky that she has been lined up by two media organisations to be interviewed tomorrow morning about Universal's proposed theme park.

 

[ProjectUniversal]

I've got a good feeling about tomorrow.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Interesting snippet: Dr Sabrina Mittermeier, a German academic who is regarded as an expert in theme park history, was interviewed by the BBC last year about the proposed development, at the time when Universal held their public meetings. She has just said on Bluesky that she has been lined up by two media organisations to be interviewed tomorrow morning about Universal's proposed theme park.

Yeah I saw that too. There's an awful lot of smoke.

 

[rob@rar]

There's an awful lot of smoke.

Indeed, and where there's smoke...

Can't believe it's a coincidence that a theme park academic is being lined up to give a talking head interview without something being announced. I'd guess media organisations have the info under embargo and are getting their coverage lined up for tomorrow.

 

[ProjectUniversal]

I'd guess media organisations have the info under embargo and are getting their coverage lined up for tomorrow.

Spot on! That is EXCATLY what is happening.

 

[rob@rar]

Spot on! That is EXCATLY what is happening.

Are you being lined up for an interview? I'd have thought that some enterprising media outlet has noticed your drone work on the site.

 

[ProjectUniversal]

Are you being lined up for an interview? I'd have thought that some enterprising media outlet has noticed your drone work on the site.

Funny you should say that, the BBC did ask me this week for an interview but they wanted my full name, date or birth and address so I politly declined. True dat!

 

[JT01]

I don't think my nerves can take this much suspense! I hope we are not all going to be disappointed if nothing happens tomorrow now!

Funny you should say that, the BBC did ask me this week for an interview but they wanted my full name, date or birth and address so I politly declined. True dat!

being outed by the bbc would be funny

 

[Altonsky]

I don't think my nerves can take this much suspense! I hope we are not all going to be disappointed if nothing happens tomorrow now!


being outed by the bbc would be funny

Nah I think this is legit.

The news articles over the past few weeks, then that person on towers street must know someone (I’m assuming a civil servant or something) then this other person being contacted.

Somethings happening tomorrow

 

[EllieB]

I'm trying to prepare myself for disappointment by convincing myself that the news tomorrow is "We've decided not to bother after all" so anything at all, including no news, will be better than that.

 

[bedfordmassive]

IT’S HAPPENING!!!