Universal Studios has been given the green light by the UK government to build a theme park in Bedfordshire, which it estimates will provide an £50 billion economic boost to the country by 2055 and add around 28,000 jobs.
The Hollywood studio, which has produced blockbusters such as Wicked, Harry Potter, Shrek and The Minions, secured land in late 2023 on the site of a 476-acre disused brickworks near Bedford.
Today, the UK government said it and Bedford Borough Council have come to an agreement with Universal.
The park is expected to take over five years to build, needing 20,000 workers in the construction process, before opening in 2031 to create around 8,000 jobs in the hospitality and creative industries.
Universal, owned by Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), already has seven other parks around the world, in California, Florida, Las Vegas, Texas, Japan, China and Singapore.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the investment by Universal would "see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage".
Universal's plans include a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment complex, with the theme park including "themed lands" and "thrilling rides".
Along with a blurry concept artist's view of how the site might look, the company said, "it is too early in the process to know the possibilities of featured attractions and experiences", with more precise details about the project to be revealed over time, subject to planning consent.