Council leaders explain why Universal Studios is a game-changer for the whole Borough

Universal Studios’ announcement to build a world-class theme park and resort in Bedford Borough has made international headlines. But beyond the scale of the investment and global interest lies a local story — one about partnerships, preparation, and long-term opportunity.

Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council, Laura Church, described the confirmation moment as exciting and intense.

“We couldn’t tell anyone,” she explained. “I was here [with a small team] at midnight on Tuesday, texting stakeholders and setting up meetings. It was a huge moment, but we had a job to do.”

That job has been in motion for some time.

From the moment Universal expressed interest in the Stewartby site, the council quietly supported early engagement — facilitating stakeholder introductions, liaising with parish councils and utilities, and even providing a small local office to help Universal embed in the area.

Team effort

Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton, emphasised the scale of the project’s significance. “This is the most important thing the council will ever do,” he said.

“We’ve brought everyone together — senior officers, local parishes, cross-party councillors — to show that Bedford is open for business and serious about getting it right.”

The scale is indeed substantial. Subject to planning permission, the project could create 20,000 jobs during construction and 8,000 operational roles when the park opens.

However, council leaders say the broader impact could stretch across education, skills, supply chains, and infrastructure.

“It’s not just about the site,” said Church. “It’s about supply chains, skills, education and long-term opportunities. We’ve already worked with the University of Bedfordshire and Cranfield on healthcare and engineering.

Now we can add creative industries, infrastructure, design, and digital. Why wouldn’t you want to be an architect designing for Universal? Or an engineer building part of the park?”

The council has already committed to creating a dedicated team to support the development, including the newly advertised head of regeneration and economy post.

Laura said this person will play a vital role in identifying wider borough opportunities, from short-term property needs to long-term economic growth.

Local business benefits

While the park itself will be in Stewartby, the CEO and the Mayor are clear that the benefits will stretch across the borough. “This is future planning on a huge scale,” said Laura.

“It’s two university cycles away. It’s a whole secondary school journey for today’s Year 7 students. We have time to prepare and make sure our residents are part of the journey.”

Among the council’s planned next steps are a series of events for local businesses, designed to help them understand how they might become part of the supply chain. “We want to give our traders a way in,” said Wootton.

“From groundworks to catering — people want to know how to get involved, and we’ll help them do that.”

Some residents have asked how the resort will impact the wider town, particularly Bedford’s high street and Kempston. Church said the council was already working with DCMS and local stakeholders to map out regeneration opportunities.

“People will want restaurants, shops, entertainment,” she said. “We’ve already seen new venues opening. There’s more to come.”

She also highlighted interest from cultural institutions and independent businesses, noting that tourism packages could link Universal with other Bedford attractions.

“It’s a great opportunity to put Bedford Borough at the centre of something national — and help more people discover what we have to offer.”

“This is about Bedford”

In the short term, the construction phase alone is expected to bring thousands of tradespeople and contractors to the area. “We’ve seen what that means with schools and housing developments,” said Wootton. “This is on a different scale.”

The Mayor also addressed the broader vision. “It’s like watching the tide come in. It lifts all the boats — big and small. You might not work at Universal, but you’ll feel the benefit if your neighbour does, or your daughter does, or if your café sees more customers.”

Both Church and Wootton were also keen to highlight the cross-party support behind the scenes. “This happened because we worked together,” said Wootton. “Officers, councillors, partners and residents all played a role. This is about Bedford, not party politics.”

A public survey released before the announcement found 92% of local respondents in favour of the plans. “It’s not a hard sell,” said Wootton. “It’s a brownfield site, mostly old brickworks. It brings jobs, regeneration, training and pride. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

With planning now underway and an expected opening in 2031, the next phase will focus on maintaining transparency, refining local benefits, and ensuring long-term impact.

“This is just the start,” said Church. “We’ll be listening, collaborating and making sure this works for everyone.”

Universal Studios UK is a global headline — but its legacy, if realised, will be local.