Bedford, Friday, 28 November 2025.
Universal has lodged a formal planning application for a multi-billion-pound resort in Bedford, linking private capital to a near-£500 million government package for rail and road upgrades to underpin visitor volumes and workforce access. The 476‑acre proposal envisions themed lands, hotels and retail, and forecasts 8.5 million visitors in year one with a projected contribution approaching £50 billion to the UK economy over 20 years. For retail and supply‑chain professionals, the development signals concrete procurement windows across themed retail, foodservice concessions, construction supply and logistics, and operational spending once open. Immediate priorities are phased planning permissions, the timing of procurement notices, transport capacity tied to public funding, and land‑use and environmental scrutiny that could affect schedules. Early engagement with planners, capacity planning and bid readiness will be critical for firms aiming to secure work across both construction and operational phases.