The government has granted planning permission to build a Universal Studios theme park between Milton Keynes and Bedford.

Approval has been given the Universal Studios’ owner Comcast to build a theme park on land in the Kempston Hardwick area on the outskirts of Bedford.

A decision backed by Steve Reed, the government’s Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, was confirmed earlier today (16/12).

Under the terms of the approval, a Special Development Order (SDO) has been granted for the project, which would go live from 12 January 2026 and which allows direct government approval rather than the use of normal local planning procedures. From 12 January, a statutory review of the proposals by Parliament must be completed.

The order grants planning permission for a 268 hectare site to be turned into an Entertainment Resort Complex, with the proposal including improvements to nearby road and rail links. Comcast intends for the theme park to be open by 2031.

In a statement, the Universal Studios UK project said, “The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has approved our request for planning permission to be granted by way of making a Special Development Order (SDO).

“While there are still further steps to complete, including a statutory parliamentary review period, this decision represents another important milestone for the project.”

The government previously announced in April that they would be supporting the proposals.

Among people praising the decision were Mohammad Yasin, the MP for Bedford and Kempston.

Yasin said, “Absolutely delighted to share with you that Universal Studios has got the green light – the Special Development Order has been granted and comes into force on the 12 January.”

Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford Borough Council, said, “I’d love to take all the credit for this – but I can’t! This is the result of so much hard work by so many people, and it will be something that has a huge, positive impact on countless lives even when I’m long forgotten. It’s one of the proudest moments of my political life.

“This is a huge vote of confidence in Bedford and Kempston, in the borough and region, and in the Council. This is the perfect place for this investment, well-connected, full of talent, and ready to grow. I know that our residents and businesses will seize all the opportunities that this will offer us, and I’ll work with Universal night and day to ensure our partnership can continue to bloom.”

Plans to build the multi-billion pound site have circulated for around two years, with the proposals first being revealed in late 2023 that Universal were considering building the theme park on the site of a former brickworks near to Kempston and Stewartby, just to the south-west of Bedford and the north-east of Milton Keynes. The site is intended to be the international theme park brand’s first major location in Europe.

Proposed parts of the project include a 500-room hotel, a retail, dining and entertainment complex and several exhibitions, rides and attractions themed around Hollywood film and TV show properties.

Universal have said that the project would see it become one of the region’s largest employers, creating 20,000 construction jobs and 8,000 permanent positions once the theme park is operational, with the company intending for approximately 80% of all jobs at the site to go to local workers. They have also said the proposals would deliver economic benefits in excess of £50 billion during construction and its first 20 years of operation.

In July, it was announced the government was planning multiple transport plans for the area around the site. Proposals announced include upgrades to the adjacent A421 road, a new railway station at Wixams on the Midland Main Line that connects Bedford with the East Midlands, Luton and London, and an upgraded railway station at Stewartby on the East West Rail route that is being planned to link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.