Universal Studios exploring building new theme park

Could be first Common theme park in all of Europe

A brand new Common theme park could also be coming to the UK and the leisure and points of interest big is asking Britons for his or her enter.

Final yr, Common bought a 476-acre parcel of land exterior of Bedford, England, about 55 miles north of London, to discover the potential of constructing a brand new theme park and resort. It will not solely be the primary Common theme park within the U.Okay., however the first in all of Europe.

During the last a number of months, the corporate says it’s been researching the feasibility of such a venture and discussing it with native and nationwide stakeholders.

Whereas the venture stays simply an thought right now, Common is now asking for the general public to chime in with their opinions on how a possible park would possibly have an effect on their lives and the way the corporate might finest honor and have fun the area in a respectful method.

“We’ve got began a public engagement interval on our potential theme park and resort expertise in Bedford,” a Common Locations & Experiences spokesperson advised Nexstar. “This represents the following step in our ongoing due diligence and feasibility work and is a chance for us to share early pondering on our plans and safe suggestions.”

The park can be constructed south of Bedford on a 700-acre piece of property which incorporates the 476 acres bought final yr and a smaller parcel that Common has the choice to amass.

The corporate stated the realm is already allotted for improvement and has the flat topography {that a} large-scale theme park resort would require.

The location has quick access to quick passenger rail service connecting to London and London Luton Airport, and a brand new regional rail venture presently beneath development that can join Cambridge to Oxford would additionally present further rail service.

The Bedford area has a wealthy blue-collar historical past, Common says, and was as soon as the principal provider of bricks all through the British development business. Whereas these brick crops had been torn down a long time in the past, the business left an indelible mark on those that known as the area house and nonetheless do to at the present time.

Common says it’s involved in incorporating a few of the bricks nonetheless discovered on-site into a few of the potential buildings and designs and even incorporate different points of the city’s historical past into foods and drinks services or future points of interest.

For Common, England is a logical place to develop a park and improve its affect. The corporate says 38 million U.Okay. residents traveled to its theme parks across the globe this previous yr, spending as a lot as £34 billion ($42.3 billion) yearly.

The UK is an particularly enticing marketplace for Common as a result of its sturdy tourism and transportation infrastructure that hyperlinks seamlessly to the remainder of Europe. Comcast, the guardian firm of Common, already has a powerful presence within the nation with NBCUniversal and Sky each having headquarters there.

Common says {that a} new park in the UK can be mutually useful for the corporate and its residents, emphasizing its potential to carry hundreds of jobs and improve tourism all through the area.

Any development, Common says, can be finished with cautious consideration to native wildlife and ecology, with landscaping and devoted inexperienced house a core part of any future plans. Comcast beforehand vowed to grow to be carbon-neutral by 2035 and it says its theme parks play a giant position in these targets.

Native infrastructure would additionally see important funding, together with the development of not less than one new rail station and devoted direct roadways that will accommodate the majority of the park’s site visitors, in line with paperwork posted on Common’s official web site for the venture.

Locals are requested to take part in a brief survey to supply suggestions on the proposal, whether or not to point out help, opposition or to supply enter on the way it could possibly be improved.

“Whereas it’s going to nonetheless be a while earlier than we determine whether or not or not we proceed, we stay up for additional partaking with the neighborhood on this potential improvement,” the spokesperson stated.

If there’s sufficient public help, and if Common determines constructing a brand new park can be a sensible monetary transfer, development might take between 5 and 6 years. In constructing a park in historic Bedford, Common would additionally grow to be everlasting tenants of the area, writing a brand new chapter within the city’s historical past.

“If the venture strikes ahead, we are going to grow to be long-term members of the area people and stay up for future partnership,” an info packet posted on-line reads.

Members of the neighborhood can present remark by both filling out the survey on-line, reaching out by telephone or e-mail, or requesting and mailing a paper copy.

Responses are due by Might 3.

Any and all future updates will probably be posted on-line on Common’s devoted venture web site, the corporate says.