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On June 3, 2026, Comcast NBCUniversal and the UK government unveiled the name and financing for Universal’s first European destination: Universal United Kingdom Resort.
The Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire project is slated to open in 2031.
Comcast has committed more than £5 billion for construction and a further £1 billion of capital investment in the resort’s first decade; the government will provide a £1.3 billion package for regional and community infrastructure.
Officials project about 8.5 million visitors in the first year, rising in later years, and an economic contribution of roughly £50 billion by mid-century.
The development — on land south of Bedford where enabling works have begun — is expected to create some 20,000 construction jobs and around 8,000 ongoing roles (commonly reported as c.28,000 jobs in total). Public funds will partly fund upgrades to rail and road links, including a four‑platform Wixams station and A421 improvements (estimated at c.£474m); several grants (including a DCMS allocation) are tied to delivery and opening milestones.








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