Universal Studios Great Britain July Update

All the latest news about the Universal UK Theme Park Project.
Including:
- New job roles posted
- More land being bought
- Support from local councils
- Secret information covered by NDA!

[@MDStream2007]

I live 5 minures away from the proposed site and our council and neighbouring councils have written to the prime minister. Which is really positive and next week bedford borough are having a meeting to finalise.

[@supersuede91]

In Labour King Speech they are taking the brakes off planning permission so probably even more encouragement for Universal

[@gothicgorey]

Universal opening in the U.K. is a huge golden ticket for labour. It’s like look what we have got coming for you all and how much money and jobs it will generate. Which is all true to be honest ! It will be a huge income and even for local businesses around.

[@Themersive]

This is gonna be great for the UK, as well as the rest of the world

[@UniversalUKNews]

Yeah another Universal park is huge news, we're planning on getting to the Beijing and Singapore ones next year so we'll have done them all, can't wait for a new one to be added!

[@HeyItsJon92]

I live a hour away from the proposed area, this will be great for UK tourism and the economy

[@DisneyParklife]

From my experience the first 20% of a project is planning. However if Universal leverages a lot of existing buildings, ride systems, stores, supply chains, menus then a lot of the design work is done. So for example if Wizarding world is included - as it is in Japan, Orlando, California, Beijing then its their 5th implementation of that area. Same goes for Jurassic Park, Minions, Hollywood, Super Nintendo World etc. I am very excited to visit Universal Singapore and Universal Japan in the next 12 months and get a taste of what might be coming to the UK

[@UniversalUKNews]

Definitely! We went to USJ a few weeks ago and were surprised to see how many buildings were identical to ones in Orlando, even down to the layout inside.

[@stevepage4504]

Nothing has been delayed, they going ahead with it and drawing up full plans to submit planning permission during August. They haven't announced anything as are waiting to the weekend of 8th August to announce host of things. Why wait to announce.. well that weekend is Disney D23 when Disney expected to announce their plans for new attractions to counter Epic universe. Universal want to steal Disney's thunder that weekend and on the Friday will announce new attractions like Pokémon/Zelda going to there current parks the saturday will announce opening date of Epic universe and release full adverts for it and on the Sunday when Disney already overshadowed they will blow them out the water with the announcement that universal Britain is happening and release concept art.

[@UniversalUKNews]

I'd love for this to be true! I think k planning permission in August is a bit optimistic though

[@birdflox1337]

I think Zelda and Pokémon are very far away from being announced

[@eddiesilverside4146]

Where are these announcements?

[@christophermorris26]

Notice as well that this isn't that far from Center Parcs Woburn Forest, so this will be great for them and there is already off park accommodation near by if you don't want to stay in their hotels and good for day visitors if you're on holiday there!!!

[@liamcollinson5695]

My speculation is that the confirmation will probably come after epic universe opens i feel like they will probably want all the attention on epic universe for now

[@birdflox1337]

Plus, the announcement would probably bring even more hype after the general public has seen how good Epic Universe is.

[@UniversalUKNews]

I think they'll announce confirmation that they are submitting planning permission etc, because that all has to be public anyway, and I'd expect the announcement in the next month or so. They'll save the big media announcement for much later.

[@FAFO4wisdom-s9o]

Given that this park is a second Epic Universe, that's a strong possibility.

[@TwentyTwoSP]

Exciting. I live in North East Hertfordshire, not far from Bedford at all :D

[@gunnyo50]

I wouldn't worry too much about Lisa Nandy, the new culture secretary, making the final decision. The whole cabinet has to give the green light including the new female Chancellor and Keir Starmer before she does. I know she'll wholeheartedly agree to it when that time comes around. Labour's thing has always been about growing the economy and this project is a prime example of that.

[@UniversalUKNews]

Oh yeah not worried about her at all, was just making the point that now Universal have someone new as their contact point it's a whole process to start the communications again

[@MrUltrAdaman]

They already appear to have someone in the new ventures role (could be that they're leaving?). Reading the job spec it appears to be a pretty generic role for any new sites they want to set up. I would expect they've already done a lot of the work as the scope includes things like market research and analysis which we know has been done. It could well be they've already got at least 1 internal candidate for the role and they have to publicly advertise it. I wouldn't be surprised if this has minimal effect on the actual timeline of the project as I'm almost certain most of the planning work is at well underway (at least for phase 1) if we're getting the green light.

[@UniversalUKNews]

Could be an additional role with the job advert to look after this particular project? I think it's impossible to know how far along the planning is right now without some insider information from people breaking NDAs (which hasn't happened afaik). I'd guess they'd want to make sure they know exactly how much land they have and any conditions from the government before they do any really in-depth planning for the application.

[@MrUltrAdaman]

@@UniversalUKNewsnot sure they have enough for a complete planning application yet but I’d be surprised if they didn’t have a broad idea what they wanted to do.

[@halcyondaystunes]

Residential properties get bought up all the time prior to big civil engineering orojects thst then get cancelled. Near me in Essex, their have been plans for a section of the A12 being widened. 3 terraced cottages have been bought and sold many times over the last 30 years. So, buying those houses in Bedford doesn't mean anything. Having said that, i do believe this is all going ahead.😊

[@UniversalUKNews]

I really just meant that it shows Universal haven't decided not to go ahead, we haven't had any signs yet that Universal isn't serious about this

[@nickymccoy]

I tuink Universal will wait until next year to discuss and submit the plans for the park, they will want to learn from Epic Universe and the findings as they are creating 4 massive pinch points with the portals and worlds so they will want to learn from that once it open and it will influence the design going forward!

[@UniversalUKNews]

Do you think the portals are a mistake?

[@nickymccoy]

No, I don’t think they are mistake at all, but they will evolve as Epic opens and they use this system at other newer parks, but I think it’s a brilliant idea!

[@561jeffkelly]

Excellent Vlog, I have been to Orlando 14 times since 1995. The last 3 times never bothered with Disney and just went to Universal and sea world much better. Most of if not all of the Dark Universe is set in England and then you have Harry Potter if they do it right it could be amazing. Here is my Concern. Spain Salou and the Universal park built there in the 90s by Bursh Gardens and Tussauds and Universal took over in the 2000s they also built 2 large hotels along with a water park and then off they went running for the hills and Salou Spain had the weather.

[@UniversalUKNews]

But Port Aventura (the park you're talking about) was built by a group with Tussauds having the biggest share at 40%, and Busch owned like 20%, then Universal bought it. Universal weren't involved in the construction or planning for the park at all so I don't think it's a cause for concern for all of this

[@uttermanbo]

I don't see another park in the United States or Asia. I think it's going to be in Europe to match and compete with Disneyland Paris. The question is if not the UK, where? I can't see them in Spain, France, or Germany. Italy doesn't have the infastructure anywhere close to what the proposed site in England. Russia? 😮 Nope😅 So if they want to expand to take that top spot away from Disney. They will have to do it in more than just the United States or Asia.

[@josh2392PWD]

I hope they make new rides and not the same or too similar to Florida.

[@Benlovescheese]

I was expecting 2030-2032 from the start tbh.

[@TheHesK9]

I doubt that job advert will make any difference. New Ventures seems to be a current department at Universal. Paige Thompson is the President of New Ventures and has been for some time

[@UniversalUKNews]

It sounds a bit like they're hiring someone specifically for this project though, and Director of Operations sounds senior to me

[@TheHesK9]

@UniversalUKNews Does it say it's a new role though? someone might be leaving

[@gothicgorey]

Regarding Lisa nandy she’s sound and loves theme parks haha

[@gb9727]

Let us know when a red flag shows up

[@UniversalUKNews]

'If', not when!

[@cosmicwartoad2587]

But were the people in the area actually asked or were members of the council offered front row seats in major sporting events, taken on all expenses paid trips to Las Vegas or holidays in exclusive golfing resorts, spending weekends on private yachts and offered envelopes of cash by studio executives and property developers or have meetings behind closed doors or the subject wasn't included in public meetings?

[@UniversalUKNews]

They had two public meetings hosted by Universal then the council meeting minutes are obviously public. They surveyed thousands of local residents and some businesses and everyone was invited to give feedback during the consultation, like any planning process!

[@jrfings7852]

Where’s that shirt from please?! 😅

[@UniversalUKNews]

It's a Disney one! They were selling it at Disney World and it was crazy expensive, but then we found it on the UK online Disney store for much cheaper so couldn't resist

[@jrfings7852]

@@UniversalUKNews I realised after I asked it’s the skeleton dance one which I was desperate for but could never find a Large 🙃

[@brianmonkey1697]

Not happening…

[@gb9727]

First

[@TomW0odD2]

It’s been taken off google maps 😢

[@UniversalUKNews]

Boo, that was super helpful

[@LEWIS1992]

The phrase is "a pinch of salt", not "a grain of salt". We're not American. :)

[@UniversalUKNews]

Sorry you couldn't understand it. Thanks to globalisation most English speaking viewers understand both British and US versions of idioms and can use whichever one they think sounds better as they're talking, but sorry this one was a problem for you. I've got a degree in English and taught English Language A Level for 13 years so I enjoy using language however it fits best. Always thought it weird when other people try to police others based on some imaginary prescriptivist rules even though they completely understand what was being communicated.

[@brianmonkey1697]

It’s not going to happen…….