The British government has pledged £500 million of infrastructure investment in Bedfordshire to support the planned development of a Universal Studios theme park.
Universal Destinations & Experiences intends to build and operate the park. The project sits on a former brickworks, quite close to existing rail and road infrastructure that will need to be expanded before the park opens in 2031.
It's estimated that the project will create 20,000 jobs during the construction phase and add 8,000 roles once the park is in operation.
Projections anticipate nearly £50 billion in economic benefits for the British economy, with around 8.5 million visitors predicted in the park's first year.
The UK government intends to spend £500 million on transport upgrades, including £270 million for rail works and £200 million for roads. The investments will expand a two-platform Wixams station to four platforms. Construction is expected to get underway in February 2027 and run until November 2030.