A few interesting takeaways from Bedford Borough Council’s first Universal Project Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. I’ve been working my way through the meeting transcript, and there were a few points that really stood out.
M1 Junction 13
One of the biggest surprises for me was that improvements to M1 Junction 13 are not part of the £1.3 billion government investment package announced alongside Universal. Instead, the junction is being looked at separately by the Department for Transport.
I have to admit, I found that surprising. With Universal, Wixams Station, East West Rail and other developments all expected to increase traffic in the area, I thought Junction 13 would have been included from the outset. It’ll certainly be interesting to see what, if anything, is eventually proposed there.
More detailed plans are still to come
Although Universal already has planning permission through the Special Development Order, the meeting confirmed that a lot of detailed submissions still have to be made. These will cover things such as building layouts, structures, building heights, transport integration and environmental management.
Bedford Borough Council also confirmed it is in regular dialogue with the government department overseeing these submissions. What wasn’t confirmed is whether those detailed plans will be made available for the public to view. Hopefully they will be, because they’ll give us a much better understanding of exactly how different parts of the resort will be delivered. That’s certainly something I’ll be keeping a close eye on.
Construction is increasing… but the theme park itself is still some way off
The council expects to see more significant construction activity later this summer, but they also made it clear that the actual theme park buildings are still likely to be a couple of years away.
That fits with what we’ve been seeing on site. Right now, the focus remains on preparing the land, roads, utilities and infrastructure before the major vertical construction begins.
Construction management plans
Another interesting point was that Universal will be required to submit detailed Construction Environmental Management Plans covering issues such as construction traffic, noise, dust and environmental protection. These plans will be reviewed as the project progresses and should provide a clearer picture of how construction will be managed over the coming years.
Protecting local communities
There was also plenty of discussion around protecting local residents. Councillors talked about concerns over short-term holiday lets and Airbnb-style accommodation, with Article 4 powers discussed as one possible way of managing future changes if evidence shows they’re needed.
Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs)
Parking was another topic that generated discussion. Councillors highlighted the importance of introducing Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) around affected communities before Universal and the expanded Wixams Station open, rather than waiting until parking becomes a problem. The concern is that visitors and commuters could leave their cars on nearby residential streets to avoid parking charges. CPZs are now included in the committee’s future work programme, so it’s another issue I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Overall, it was a positive meeting, but also a realistic one. Universal UK represents an incredible opportunity for Bedford, but it’s encouraging to see councillors asking the right questions about roads, housing, infrastructure, transparency and making sure local residents benefit from the project as much as possible.
As always, I’ll continue following these meetings and digging through the documents so I can bring you the updates that matter most.
