Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited the Universal development site at Kempston Hardwick on 3 June 2026 as Comcast NBCUniversal officially unveiled the name Universal United Kingdom Resort. The £5 billion project is expected to create 28,000 jobs, attract millions of visitors and generate nearly £50 billion for the UK economy.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited the Universal development site at Kempston Hardwick on Wednesday, 3 June, as the landmark Bedfordshire project moved into its next phase.
The visit coincided with the official unveiling of the name Universal United Kingdom Resort, the first Universal-branded theme park and resort destination in Europe. The development is being built on the former brickworks site near Bedford and is scheduled to open in 2031.
During her visit, Reeves met senior executives from Universal Destinations & Experiences and members of the growing UK project team. Enabling works are already underway on site ahead of major construction activity beginning in the coming months.
The resort represents one of the largest investments ever made in the UK's tourism sector. Comcast NBCUniversal has committed more than £5 billion during the construction phase, alongside a further £1 billion in investment during the resort's first decade of operation. The UK Government has also announced £1.3 billion of support for transport and community infrastructure improvements linked to the development.
When complete, Universal United Kingdom Resort is expected to create around 20,000 construction jobs and a further 8,000 permanent roles. Universal says approximately 80 per cent of employees will be recruited from Bedfordshire and surrounding areas. The company is also developing apprenticeship, internship and training programmes to support local employment opportunities.
Speaking during the announcement, Rachel Reeves described the development as a landmark investment for the Oxford-to-Cambridge Growth Corridor, saying it would unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth while creating tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.
The resort is expected to attract around 8.5 million visitors in its first year and become one of the UK's most visited tourist destinations. Plans include a world-class theme park featuring multiple themed lands, a 500-room hotel, retail, dining and entertainment facilities, together with significant transport improvements including upgrades to the A421 and the expansion of Wixams railway station.
Bedford Borough Mayor Tom Wootton welcomed the start of work on site, describing the project as a transformational opportunity for the borough and the wider region. With construction activity now underway, the Universal United Kingdom Resort moves a step closer to bringing one of the world's most recognisable entertainment brands to Bedfordshire.
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