A site in Bedfordshire has reportedly been selected by Universal Studios as a possible location for a theme park.
Almost 500 acres of land that previously housed a brickworks has been acquired by the US film giant.
The location – within two hours reach of more than half the UK’s population – is 45 minutes travel time from London and in close proximity to Luton airport.
If developed, Universals Studios Bedford could open by 2030 as the company’s sixth park alongside resorts in the US, Beijing, Japan and Singapore. It would also be larger than the 415 acres covered by Universal Studios Hollywood.
A Universal destinations and experiences spokesperson confirmed that the company has “acquired land” and is “at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site”.
“It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community,” they told the Bedford Independent.
They said: “We support Bedford’s vision of becoming a prosperous place to live, work and visit and we take a proactive approach to partnering with local communities and stakeholders, like Bedford Borough Council, when pursuing potential projects.”
The site’s proximity to London, the Harry Potter Studios near Watford, and the cities of Oxford and Cambridge make Bedford the ideal location for anyone planning a tourist trip to the UK.
No creative content of the park has yet been determined and stressed that “we are still very early in planning this potential project”.
The company said: “We are always looking at new locations around the world, including in Europe, and the UK is an attractive place for a potential project.
“The UK has a large population, creative industries, strong tourism, and transportation infrastructure with close proximity to other parts of Europe.”
The area was chosen, due to its “transportation connectivity to London and Europe with more than half of the UK population within two hours, including just 45 minutes outside of London”.
The former industrial site once had 167 chimneys for producing bricks, but the final four were demolished in 2021.