A quick update on Broadmead Road, as Universal has confirmed that the current closure has been extended by a further three weeks. The road was originally due to reopen on 12 June, but it will now remain closed until Friday 3 July. Looking at the progress so far, it's easy to see that quite a bit of work has already been carried out. One of the biggest visible changes appears to be the widening of the road, which should make it better suited to the heavy construction traffic that will eventually be using this route. Interestingly, no work has started on the level crossing itself yet. Universal says that during the project they discovered previously unmapped utility services beneath the road. These now need to be fully surveyed before the remaining upgrades can be completed, which is why the closure has had to be extended. For anyone affected, the existing vehicle and bus diversions via Green Lane will remain in place until the works are finished. The photos below show some of the progress that's been made over the last few weeks. It might not be the most exciting part of the Universal project, but these infrastructure upgrades are an important piece of the puzzle and will help support the huge amount of construction traffic expected in the years ahead. If you're local, how have you found the diversions so far? Have they made much difference to your usual journey times, or has traffic in your area noticeably increased? Let us know in the comments below. 👇 #UniversalUK #UniversalUnitedKingdomResort #ProjectUniversal #ProjectBedford #BroadmeadRoad #Bedford #Bedfordshire #ThemeParkConstruction #Infrastructure

Universal Almost Chose Milton Keynes – So How Did Bedford Win? It's one of the biggest "what ifs" in the history of Universal United Kingdom Resort. Before Universal settled on the former Kempston Hardwick Brickworks site in Bedfordshire, planning documents reveal that the company was seriously considering an alternative location on the north-eastern edge of Milton Keynes. The site, referred to in the documents as the "Newport Road site", was located close to Junction 14 of the M1 and appears to have covered land in the area between the motorway and Moulsoe. Today, much of that area is earmarked for housing and mixed-use development as part of Milton Keynes' future expansion plans. At first glance, it looked like a strong contender. The location had excellent motorway access, sat close to Milton Keynes itself, and was planned to benefit from major future transport improvements. However, the planning documents reveal that Universal and the landowners were unable to agree commercially acceptable terms, meaning a deal could not be reached. The site has since been allocated for alternative development, effectively taking it off the table. But there may have been another reason why Bedford ultimately proved more attractive. The same documents reveal that Universal had a very specific list of requirements when searching for a UK location. The company wanted a site with more than 200 acres of land, relatively flat terrain, good motorway access, railway connections and a location capable of attracting visitors from across the UK. While the Newport Road site appears to have met those minimum requirements, it was only just over the 200-acre threshold Universal had set. The Bedfordshire site was on an entirely different scale. Universal initially acquired around 480 acres before expanding its holdings through neighbouring land options and purchases. Today, the company controls approximately 662 acres around the former Kempston Hardwick Brickworks site, giving it more than three times the minimum land area it was seeking. That extra space provides room not only for the theme park itself, but also for hotels, entertainment districts, backstage facilities, transport infrastructure, future expansion areas and everything else needed to support a destination resort expected to attract millions of visitors every year. Transport links also played a major role in Bedford's favour. The resort will benefit from improvements to the A421, a new dedicated junction, upgrades to local roads, and improved rail connectivity through East West Rail and the nearby Wixams station. Location was another key factor. More than half of the UK's population lives within a two-hour drive of Bedford, while London is less than an hour away by train. All of this helped create the business case for what is now one of the largest private investments in UK tourism history. Universal plans to invest around £5 billion before the resort opens in 2031, with a further £1 billion expected to be spent on future expansions. The company estimates the project could generate almost £50 billion in economic benefits for the UK economy by 2055 while supporting around 28,000 jobs. Looking back now, it's fascinating to think how close things came to being very different. Had negotiations gone another way, Universal United Kingdom Resort might have been built near Junction 14 of the M1 instead of Bedford. Instead, Bedford secured what could become one of the most significant leisure and tourism developments Europe has seen in decades. Do you think Universal made the right choice with Bedford, or would the Newport Road site near Milton Keynes have worked just as well? #UniversalStudios #bedford #construction #projectuniversal #uk

Notice to locals, Woburn Road is closed for the weekend between the Wootton roundabout and Green lane. It's best to avoid the area. And yes I'm aware that's easier said than done if you live in Stewartby. #construction #UniversalStudios #bedford #projectuniversal

A quick update for everyone following today's event at Universal Studios UK... It now appears that today's gathering was not a ground-breaking ceremony, at least based on the information available right now. According to several trusted sources (thank you to those who reached out), today's event was actually the project's official naming ceremony. We're also hearing that the media embargo is due to be lifted at 2:30pm today, so we should start seeing coverage appear across news outlets very soon. I now know the official name, but I'm going to respect the embargo and keep that under wraps until it's lifted. Hopefully that earns me a few brownie points! 📷 **UNIVERSAL**, I know you read these posts... pretty please put me on the press list! 📷 📷 hi at projectuniversal dot uk Keep your eyes peeled this afternoon as more details begin to emerge. If you're on site, spotted anything interesting, or see any news stories published after the embargo lifts, drop them in the comments below or send me a message. It's shaping up to be an interesting afternoon! #bedford #UniversalStudios #construction #newsfeed #projectuniversal #fblifestyle

Still no official word on exactly what's happening, but there was definitely something going on at the site today. A large group of people in brand-new hi-vis vests gathered around the JCB while a Sky News crew filmed and took photos. It certainly had all the hallmarks of a ground-breaking ceremony, although the JCB was parked on concrete and didn't actually dig anything while I was watching, so the jury is still out on that one! I put the drone up for a quick look, but I deliberately kept my distance and remained outside the Universal boundary out of respect for what appeared to be a private event. As a result, I couldn't get close enough to see exactly what was happening but MEGA zoom worked well I think. It also makes me wonder if Sky News is preparing a story. Their helicopter was circling the area yesterday and, presumably, filming the site from above. Hopefully they managed to point the cameras at the right piece of land this time! 😆 What do you think was going on? Leave a comment below, and if you were there or know more, my inbox is always open! #bedford #SkyNews #construction #groundbreaking #construction #jcb #themepark #UniversalStudios #fblifestyle #projectuniversal

Concerns have been raised that a proposed 490-space car park at the new East West Rail station in Lidlington could end up being used by visitors heading to Universal Studios UK. Councillor Sue Clark warned that without the planned Ridgmont station, Lidlington could come under increasing pressure and risk becoming "collateral damage" from the resort's popularity. However, East West Rail has stressed that Lidlington is not being designed or promoted as a park-and-ride site, describing it instead as a station for local rail users. The debate highlights the ongoing questions around transport infrastructure, parking and traffic management as plans for Universal Studios UK continue to progress across the Marston Vale. For the full story, click the link in the comments. #UniversalStudiosUK #EastWestRail #Lidlington #Ridgmont #MarstonVale #Bedfordshire #Infrastructure #Transport #ProjectUniversal

A company that helps create live entertainment experiences for theme parks including Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort is investing £10 million into a huge new production hub in Milton Keynes. RWS Global works behind the scenes on the sort of experiences that make modern theme parks feel alive. Live shows, performers, seasonal events, scare attractions, technical production, lighting, costumes and immersive entertainment are all part of what they do. They’ve also worked with major names around the world including Disney, Six Flags, Europa-Park and Ferrari World. Their new 40,000 sq ft UK facility is expected to open in 2027 and, honestly, this is the sort of thing that makes Bedford’s location look even more valuable ahead of Universal Studios UK. Milton Keynes is only just up the road, and when you start seeing major entertainment companies investing nearby, you can really start to picture how this whole area could evolve over the next decade. Universal Studios UK won’t just be rollercoasters dropped into a field. Resorts on this scale need an entire support network around them — performers, production teams, hospitality, technicians, suppliers and creative industries. Feels like another sign that the wider region is quietly gearing up for something huge. #UniversalStudiosUK #Bedford #MiltonKeynes #ThemePark #AltonTowers #Chessington #LEGOLAND #Entertainment #Tourism #FBLifestyle #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

If you love rollercoasters — and especially if you’re a fan of Nemesis at Alton Towers — then this is something you seriously won’t want to miss. Legendary theme park designer John Wardley is coming to Bedford this September for a special talk about his incredible career designing some of the UK and Europe’s most iconic rides and attractions. From Nemesis to so many other classic attractions, John Wardley helped shape the theme park industry as we know it today. If you’ve ever queued for a coaster with butterflies in your stomach, there’s a good chance his work played a part in that memory. His book Creating My Own Nemesis tells the story of how he went from aspiring entertainer to one of the most influential ride designers in Europe — and now you’ve got the chance to hear from him in person right here in Bedford. Let’s pack this place out for a true legend of the industry. Tickets link in comments. I've got mine, lets pack the place out 👍 Fri 18 Sep 2026 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM The Swan Hotel, MK40 1RW #AltonTowers #Nemesis #Rollercoaster #ThemePark #JohnWardley #UniversalStudios #Bedford #ThemeParkFans #CoasterCommunity #FBLifestyle #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

There’s been a small update added to the Government SDO website this morning relating to the proposed improvements at the Broadmead Road level crossing near the Universal Studios UK site. I’ve attached screenshots of the key parts so you don’t have to go digging through planning documents yourself. The update mainly covers safety and traffic management measures for construction traffic using the crossing, including: • Banksmen monitoring heavy vehicle movements • New vehicle-activated warning signs • Countdown marker signs on approaches • Changes to the road profile/approach grading near the crossing Not exactly the most exciting “theme park” update in the world 😅 but part of what we do here at Project Universal is document absolutely everything happening around the development, including the infrastructure and enabling works that support the project behind the scenes. It’s actually quite interesting seeing the level of planning going into construction traffic management this early on. #UniversalStudiosUK #ProjectUniversal #Bedford #BroadmeadRoad #EastWestRail #Construction #Infrastructure #ThemePark #FBLifestyle #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

Something interesting to keep an eye on next week. At the upcoming Bedford Borough Council meeting on 13th May, councillors are expected to formally announce the membership of the new Universal Project Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Not everyone agreed this committee was needed, with some concerns raised about it becoming too political or turning into a “soapbox” for debate. Personally though, I actually think this is a positive step. With Universal Studios UK operating under a Special Development Order (SDO), a huge amount of work and decision making can happen with very limited public information being released. A dedicated scrutiny committee could at least give Bedford residents and the wider community a way to better monitor what’s happening around infrastructure, transport, housing, local impact and the overall project as it develops. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how active and transparent this committee becomes once it gets going. The image below shows the proposed committee membership 👇 #UniversalStudiosUK #Bedford #UniversalUK #ThemePark #Construction #BedfordBoroughCouncil #ProjectUniversal #UniversalStudios #fblifestyle #uk #england Read more at projectuniversal.uk

Work at Universal Studios UK on Manor Road has really picked up pace this week. Construction is moving fast on what many believe could become a new entrance point, potentially allowing traffic to cross directly over Manor Road into the CoreZone. It could also simply be part of a larger entrance and exit setup, but either way, with the huge amount of traffic expected once the park opens, it makes complete sense to see serious traffic management infrastructure starting to take shape already. The scale of preparation going into this project is becoming more obvious by the week. #UniversalStudios #UniversalStudiosUK #Bedford #Bedfordshire #Construction #ThemePark #ThemeParks #RollerCoasters #UKConstruction #ProjectUniversal #UniversalUK #ThemeParkNews #ConstructionUpdate #BedfordNews #Tourism #Infrastructure #EntertainmentResort #CoreZone #FBLifestyle #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

Project Universal's core zone and archaeological digs are progressing. Stay tuned for more updates on this major construction effort. #ProjectUniversal #ConstructionUpdate

It’s been just as busy over on Manor Road this week, some of the old wall around the concrete slab at Universal Studios UK has now been taken down, opening up the area in a way we haven’t seen before. Alongside that, there’s fresh groundwork happening — and it definitely feels like this isn’t just general clearing anymore. From the drone shots, it looks like they could be preparing a brand new entrance point, lining up almost perfectly with that flattened stretch of dirt in the field opposite. If that’s the case, we might be looking at a direct route from the slab straight into the Core Zone… which would be a pretty big step forward in how the site connects together. What do you think — could this be the start of a main access point into the Core Zone? 👇 #construction #universalstudios #fblifestyle #UniversalStudiosUK #Bedford #ManorRoad #ThemeParkConstruction #UKConstruction #CoreZone #DroneUpdate #SiteProgress #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

It’s been a really busy week at Universal Studios UK. Down by the West Gateway Zone – the transport hub – there’s been some careful work going on with suction excavation machines. They’ve been slowly clearing soil around existing utilities along Broadmead Road, which isn’t the most dramatic thing to watch, but it’s a big step forward behind the scenes. This all links into the work to divert the existing BT lines, with activity running right up along the verge towards the Broadmead Road / Woburn Road junction. That permit’s in place until May 10, so we’ve still got a bit more time to see how it develops. The bit that’s really stood out to me though is the new compound taking shape around the transport hub. It’s coming along nicely, and interestingly, they seem to be taking a lot more time over this one compared to what we saw early on in the Core Zone. That usually means it’s going to be pretty important for what’s coming next. The aerial shots this week really help put it all into perspective. It might not all be headline-grabbing changes, but when you look at the bigger picture, there’s a lot happening. Curious to hear what you all think about how the transport hub area is progressing so far 👀 #construction #UniversalStudios #Bedford #stewartby #themepark #fblifestyle #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

I popped into Stewartby village hall this afternoon to have a look at the potential EWR plans for a new Stewartby railway station. It was very interesting but one thing that stood out to me and something that's important to a lot of people was the lack of information on the Manor Road level crossing. You can have a look at the virtual consultation room at this link and if you are a local with concerns it's very important you make your voice heard by filling in the form. Virtual consultation: pinpointcloud.co.uk/EastWest… Fill in the survey here, you can skip everything that isn't a concern to you and just fill in the bits that are, it's quick and easy: smartsurvey.co.uk/t/EWR2026/ #ewr #bedford #construction #consultation #railway #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

A little bit of news that really shows the ripple effect already starting from the Universal Studios UK project 👀 A planning application has just been submitted to expand Redwings Lodge, just off the A1 near Baldock. The plan is to add 51 new rooms, taking the hotel from 40 rooms up to a total of 91. But here’s the key part… and it’s the one that really stood out to me 👇 The planning statement *directly* points to the upcoming Universal theme park near Bedford as a major reason for the expansion. Essentially, they’re expecting a noticeable rise in visitors once the park gets going — and they want to be ready for it. The application even highlights that the hotel is within about 35 minutes of the site, making it a strong option for future guests heading to the park. On top of that, they’re already seeing increased demand from things like HGV drivers and weekend stays, with Universal expected to push that even further. If approved, the extension wouldn’t just add rooms — it would also create around 17 new jobs across cleaning, front-of-house, management and maintenance roles. Design-wise, the new section would sit behind the existing building and match its height and style, so it wouldn’t drastically change how the hotel looks from the A1. For me, this is another early sign of how big the impact of Universal Studios UK is going to be. We’re not even at construction yet, and nearby businesses are already planning ahead for the demand it’s expected to bring. What do you think — are we going to see a wave of hotel expansions like this around the area? #hotel #UniversalStudios #bedford #construction #projectuniversal Read more at projectuniversal.uk

Universal Studios UK - April 2025 update. youtu.be/zR5DAfdXecw?si=m281… via @YouTube @ProUniversalUK @TLRailUK @EastMidRailway #ProjectUniversal #UK

RIP London Resort In My Opinion Its All Over For Kent 😢 #uk #gb #kent #s... youtu.be/0JUA1SFtlSc?si=fpXf… via @YouTube @ThemeParkWW @Themeuk @LondonResort @FanResort @GBUniversal @DigitalDan7 #ProjectUniversal #LondonResort

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The calm before the storm | #universalstudios #england #uk #themepark youtu.be/ic-Y2hOGquw?si=T4dZ… via @YouTube #ProjectUniversal #UniversalGB