Ground Control, a UK-based company specialising in outdoor environment and infrastructure services, has announced that its Highways Infrastructure team has secured a vegetation management contract as part of the Universal Studios UK investment project.

The contract will see Ground Control working on the access routes between Bedford and Milton Keynes, where the new theme park is set to attract millions of visitors each year. The company will be responsible for ensuring roadsides and surrounding areas are kept safe, clear, and accessible — a critical part of preparing transport infrastructure for the influx of traffic that the development is expected to generate.

Ground Control, founded in 1973, provides a wide range of services including grounds maintenance, arboriculture, landscaping, and environmental management. The firm is known for its emphasis on sustainability and biodiversity, as well as its use of innovative technology and machinery.

For this project, the company’s specialist Menzi Muck excavator and GCMech mechanical operations team, led by Craig Sanders, will play a central role in managing vegetation along key transport corridors.

The win was made possible through collaboration with construction giant Skanska, and Ground Control has publicly recognised the efforts of Stephen Gates and Frances Davies in securing the opportunity.

With work due to begin later this year, this marks a significant milestone for Ground Control and further demonstrates the versatility of its highways team. It also underlines the scale of preparation required to deliver infrastructure capable of supporting a development of Universal Studios’ magnitude.