Welcome to the first of our weekly construction updates!
Universal officially broke ground on the Bedford site in early January 2026, and I’m going to be tracking every single step of this journey with you.
Current Status (Week of 3 Feb 2026):
Construction has officially begun! Here’s what we know is happening right now:
What’s Happening:
Site preparation and clearing underway
Foundation work beginning
Access roads being constructed
Utilities infrastructure being installed
The Scale of This Project:
476 acres total site (that’s HUGE!)
8.5 million visitors projected Year 1 (2031)
28,000 jobs to be created
ÂŁ3.5 billion investment
Planning Status:
The Special Development Order (SDO) was approved in January 2026, giving Universal full permission to build. I’ll be diving deep into the SDO documents and creating a milestone tracker so we can follow exactly what’s been approved, what’s in progress, and what’s coming next.
What’s Next (2026-2027):
Main entrance infrastructure (est. mid-2026)
Hotel zone development (est. 2027)
Major ride construction (est. 2027-2029)
My Commitment to You:
I’ll be posting updates every Sunday with:
The latest construction progress
Photos when available (or linking to media coverage)
Analysis of planning documents
Comparisons to how Orlando’s parks were built
Timeline predictions based on Universal’s typical development schedule
Having watched Universal build attractions in Orlando over the years, I know what to look for and I’ll be sharing all those insights here.
How You Can Help:
If you’re local to Bedford and can safely photograph the construction site, please share!
If you spot news coverage, post it here
Share any official announcements you see
Let’s watch this incredible park come to life together!
Welcome to our latest weekly update! It’s been a massive week on-site at Kempston Hardwick. Now that the Special Development Order (SDO) has been live since January 12th, we are seeing a major shift from “preparatory surveys” to actual, visible infrastructure work.
Here’s the breakdown of what’s happened in the last 7 days:
1. Landscaping & The “Green Buffer”
The biggest visual change this week is on the wildlife side of the Lake Zone.
Tree Planting: A significant number of new trees have been planted along the northern boundary.
SDO Compliance: This is part of the legally required landscaping and acoustic buffer to shield the surrounding area before heavy ride construction kicks off.
2. Engineering Tests at the West Gateway
Activity is intensifying at the future main entrance (the West Gateway).
Borehole Testing: Engineering teams are actively performing borehole tests to study the ground load-bearing capacity.
Foundation Prep: This is a vital step in preparing the foundations for the massive entrance structures and hotels that will define the park’s skyline.
3. Heavy Machinery in the Core Zone
The “Flumpers” (articulated dump trucks) and heavy scrapers like the Diggertron 330 are out in force.
Topsoil Stripping: Large-scale topsoil removal is underway in the Core Zone to level the ground for future themed lands.
Internal Fencing: Extensive new fencing is going up in specific patterns across the site, marking out the next phases of the construction village and work zones.
4. Local Infrastructure & Business Boom
Outside the fence, the scale of this project is already being felt in the local economy.
Hotel Shortfall: New analysis released this week (Feb 3) highlights that Bedfordshire will need at least 19 new hotels and roughly 93 new restaurants to support the 8.5 million visitors expected in 2031.
Wixams Station: Survey teams remain active near the Wixams site, prepping for the station expansion that will eventually link the park to London St Pancras.
Enthusiast Insight: The borehole testing at the West Gateway is particularly exciting. This is where the iconic “Welcome” structures will eventually stand. Once these tests wrap up, we should start to see the first concrete pours for the resort’s permanent infrastructure.
How You Can Help:
Photo Spotters: If you’re safely viewing from the public footpaths, have you seen any new heavy equipment arriving?
Discussion: With the 115m height limit confirmed in the SDO, which themed land are you most hoping to see tower over the Bedford skyline?
It’s the question on everyone’s mind! Official target is still 2031. It feels like ages away, but now that the planning permission (that SDO order) is officially live as of last month, the site is finally coming to life. This first phase is all about the groundworks and archaeology, but once the actual structures start going up, those five years are going to fly by