Bedford, Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
Universal has lodged a formal planning application and, as of last Tuesday, invited UK suppliers to register interest in its multi‑billion‑pound Bedford resort — signalling a move from concept to procurement readiness. For retail and attractions professionals, the striking detail is the scale: forecasts point to about 8.5 million visitors in year one and projections of tens of thousands of construction jobs alongside roughly 8,000 permanent roles. The proposal combines multiple themed lands, a CityWalk‑style leisure district and integrated hotel capacity, with planners eyeing new transport links and phased delivery that could start construction as early as 2026 and aim for opening around 2031. Early supplier outreach suggests Universal intends to localize key elements of its supply chain, which will create short‑term procurement windows and long‑term regional demand. This application will reshape capacity competition, regional footfall patterns and sourcing strategies — essential intelligence for operators, suppliers and investors evaluating market entry or expansion.