Universal recently submitted hundreds of pages of planning documents for the upcoming Universal Studios Great Britain theme park, and we have broken down all of the newest details for Universal UK.
- Why the U.K. Needs a Universal Theme Park
- Location & Zones for Universal Studios UK
- Universal UK Entertainment Resort Complex
- Sports Complex
- Convention Center & Expansion Area
- Infrastructure Improvements
- Employment
- Attendance Estimates
- Operating Hours
- Halloween Horror Nights
Why the U.K. Needs a Universal Theme Park
Universal argues that there is a “need for private sector investment on a large scale” in the U.K. and that “investment which facilities jobs and growth while simultaneously providing a unique offering to the UK tourism industry provides an opportunity to deliver on a number of key aims of government policy.”
They admit the government policy doesn’t explicitly state the country should build a theme park, “but it evidences the need for the market to deliver proposals that actively support job creation and encourage inward investment, as well as being clear on the benefits to the UK of enhancing and growing the visitor economy.”
Universal notes that alongside Disney, they are the market leaders in “delivering exceptional quality theme park experiences.” They also note that while the European theme park market is “vibrant and growing,” the most successful destinations are located outside of Europe, with the exception of Disneyland Paris.
Universal calls their potential Great Britain theme park a “generational opportunity to not only deliver jobs and growth but to create a new strand to the UK’s bow as a tourism destination.”
“In the context of the UK’s continued economic recovery, there is a clear need for the Proposed Development, both in terms of inward investment and jobs, but also enabling the UK to be a leader in the European and worldwide theme park market.”
Location & Zones for Universal Studios UK
The land that is expected to be the home of Universal Studios UK is southwest of Bedford, Bedfordshire. The area is located broadly to the east of the A421, west of the Midland Main Line, on the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks and agricultural land.
The site is divided into four man areas (not theme park lands): Core Zone, Lake Zone, West Gateway Zone, and East Gateway Zone.
Universal UK Entertainment Resort Complex
The Core Zone is where the main Entertainment Resort Complex (ERC) will be, including the theme park, entry plaza, car and coach parking, hotel with at least 500 rooms, valet parking service area, a transport hub, and team member parking.
Universal previously announced the 500-room hotel and a retail, dining, and entertainment complex like CityWalk. The latter is the “Entry Plaza” and would be outside of the ticketed theme park but require a security screening, just like CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. The document states it would include “themed retail, bars, restaurant and entertainment” and is aimed at encouraging visitors to arrive early before visiting the theme park or to stay late. While primarily aimed at theme park guests, it could also be used by the general public.
Standalone retail, dining, and entertainment facilities could be constructed in the Lake Zone and West Gateway Zone. There would also be retail with themed merchandise and restaurants inside the park.
Universal wants this to be an “international destination” as opposed to “regional” or “local.” The theme park would be at least 32.37 hectares (excluding guest parking) with an “emphasis on highly immersive storytelling and theming with international draw, focused on providing a first-class guest experience.”
For parking, there would be a minimum of 7,106 car spaces, 100 coach spaces, and 250 cycle spaces. Green infrastructure would be a minimum of 49.3 hectares. Travel routes throughout the resort would connect to the surrounding travel network.
The Core Zone would also include operational and administrative functions such as office buildings and storage facilities.
Universal also references sport, recreation, leisure, and spa facilities, and conference and convention venues.
Sports Complex
Universal indicates they are also planning a sports complex with indoor and/or outdoor areas, with the aim of competing with resorts like Port Aventura World in Spain. The “intended purpose would be to primarily host international and national youth games” while also “providing facilities which would be available for local community use.”
Participants and their families could attend games or sports events, and then they would benefit from the resort’s leisure and entertainment options without needing to travel. This all-in-one-style destination would decrease the impact to the roadway network.
Convention Center & Expansion Area
The Lake Zone is for future expansion that could include business hotels with up to 2,000 bedrooms, other accommodations with 3,370 rooms, and entertainment resort complex support. This area would be staffed by 1,724 people
A convention center with 200 staff would also be in the lake zone, with a gross internal area of 55,000 square meters.
Infrastructure Improvements
With construction of Universal’s complex, infrastructure improvements to the area would include a new A421 junction, expanded railway station on the Thameslink/Midland Main Line at Wixams, improvements to Manor Road, and improvements to other local roads. The plan also safeguards land for a potential new railway station on the proposed EWR Bletchley to Bedford line.
Employment
Universal expects to create 8,050 direct jobs in the first year of operation. 81% of employees are anticipated to be local hires. They estimate they will employ up to 12,465 people directly by 2051.
Across the U.K. supply chain, the park would generate a net 25,195 jobs in the first year and up to 42,485 by the 20th year.
It would support 5,380 construction jobs at the peak of its development.
Universal will implement an Employment and Skills Plan with initiatives designed to maximize benefits for residents of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, and other nearby local authorities. This plan includes Universal committing to:
- deliver at least 800 creative industries jobs at the complex in the opening year and maintain this level for at least five years
- provide a minimum of 50 paid internships annually from the park’s second full year, rising to 60 from the fifth full year, with internships delivered for at least five years from the opening year
- provide 55 apprenticeships annually by the park’s second full year, rising to 70 apprenticeships from the fifth full year
- provide 15 internships annually by the second full year, rising to 35 from the fifth full year
- support 100 high-risk or socio-economically disadvantaged students annually by the second full year with programs like mentorships, career guidance, job readiness skills, and educational support. If the target is missed for two consecutive years, UDX will contribute £10,000 per student missed to a program agreed with Bedford BC.
- provide employee encounters and workplace experiences annually to local students in line with agreed benchmarks. Based on the expected level of employment, this would equate to 1,430 students receiving employment encounters and 400 students receiving workplace experiences at the theme park at year of maturity (2051).
- work with local organizations that provide opportunities for those with varying abilities; provide support, training, and accommodations to help local people with varying abilities secure meaningful employment within the theme park.
- use commercially reasonable endeavours to target 20% of workforce being drawn from individuals who were unemployed or economically inactive at the time of hire, including returners and retirees.
- run executive mentorship programs for 15 participants annually and a separate divisional mentoring program for at least 50 participants annually
- pay all employees at least the National Living Wage throughout construction and operation
- ensure employment impact is primarily felt across the six Bedfordshire local authorities
The total number of team members that would be working at the resort on one day would be between 70 and 80% of the workforce, with 6,360 employees on site maximum. A busy day would include 75% or 6,083 employees, while an average day would be 70% or 5,635.
On future days, Universal expects to have up to 8,000 team members working on one day, with 7,500 (75%) on busy days and 7,000 (70%) on an average day.
Based on other Universal destinations, the shift pattern would include three shifts. An estimated 48% of employees would work shift 1, 42% would work shift 2, and 10% would work shift 3 (overnight).
Attendance Estimates
The resort is designed to accommodate 8.5M annual visitors with 55,000 per peak day in the opening year. They expect 12.5M visitors in the year following the opening.
The split between domestic and international visitors would be about 70%:30% during the opening year and 52%:48% in future years.
They split the daily number of visitors into four categories:
- Low attendance: 10,000 visitors on 80 days
- Average: 23,000 visitors on 230 days
- Busy: 40,000 visitors on 40 days
- Peak: 55,000 visitors on 15 days
In a future year, they expect daily attendance to be more like:
- Low: 18,750 visitors on 50 days
- Average: 31,250 visitors on 265 days
- Busy: 60,417 visitors on 35 days
- Peak: 81,250 visitors on 15 days
About 70% of visitors would arrive in the U.K. by air travel, most through Heathrow, while 27% would arrive by train and 3% by car. An estimated 50% would arrive at the resort by rail, 40% by coach, 5% by car, and 5% by taxi.
Operating Hours
The arrival and departure profile is based on the typical theme park operating hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. — although that does not mean these will be the daily hours.
In a chart of potential operating hours, Universal states the park could open as early as 7 a.m. and close as late as 11 p.m. on normal non-holiday dates (which include bank holidays).
During seasonal events — and Universal specifically states “such as Halloween Horror Nights” — the park could be open until as late as 1 a.m. This could only be for 60 days in a calendar year. For special events, including private events, the park could also be open until 1 a.m. up to 30 times in a year.
On major holidays, the park could also be open until 1 a.m. This would be for only five times in a calendar year: on or around Chinese New Year, 5th November, Diwali, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Notably, four of these are also among the only dates that would have fireworks (Christmas is left off that list). We break down the information about Universal Studios Great Britain not having nightly fireworks in another post, which also includes some early information about a possible nighttime drone show.
Outdoor amplified music within the ticketed area would finish no later than 11 p.m. — except during Halloween Horror Nights and other special events when music may extend up to 12:30 a.m.
The section about hours also refers to the ticketed area as a “theme park/water park/amusement park,” which is the only mention of a water park.
Halloween Horror Nights
As mentioned above, the new paperwork does include a specific mention of Halloween Horror Nights. Until now, Universal has made no official remarks about whether the Great Britain park would host special events, such as HHN.
While this paperwork is not an explicit confirmation that HHN is coming to the park, it does reveal that Universal is at least considering the idea and planning for its potential impacts. As an added piece of evidence, however, Universal trademarked the term “Halloween Horror Nights” in the United Kingdom earlier this summer.
In one paragraph, a question is asked about activities fluctuating in their intensity, “Is there a composite use where the component activities fluctuate in their intensity from time to time, but the different activities are not confined within separate and physically distinct areas of land?”
Universal’s response mentioned “media and film production facilities” that could have various uses, including “event spaces or UDX shows.” Further down the paragraph, they mention the building use may vary seasonally during events “such as Halloween Horror Nights.” Read the full paragraph below:
Within the ERC, uses and development will change depending on demands and needs at a particular point in time. For instance, media and film production facilities may be required at sporadic periods, and the rest of the time these facilities could be used as event spaces or UDX shows. Within buildings, a number of different uses may also take place, for instance wardrobe facilities within the same buildings as a health centre and team member canteen. The use of buildings is also likely to vary seasonally, for instance during events such as Halloween Horror Nights. Whilst there are areas of the ERC where certain uses are limited to, the vast majority of uses are permitted across the whole of the ERC and so they are not separate and physically distinct areas where individual uses would be confined to.
Stay tuned to Universal Parks News Today for the latest updates on this upcoming project, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.