Another Universal-related contract has popped up that suggests the impact of the resort could be felt well beyond Bedford.
North Northamptonshire Council has appointed Volterra Partners to look specifically at what Universal being built down the road in Bedford could mean for the area. They are paying £24,810 for an Economic Impact Assessment looking at jobs, visitors and the wider economic impact Universal could have across North Northamptonshire.
The council says it will use that information to work out how North Northamptonshire can make the most of the opportunities Universal could bring, while also looking at any potential problems they might need to prepare for.
The contract was signed on 24 August and runs until the end of March 2027, so presumably we’ll hear quite a bit more about this over the coming months.
This development underlines that Universal isn’t just something Bedford is preparing for anymore. Milton Keynes has already been talking about the opportunities it could bring, and now North Northamptonshire is commissioning its own study into the potential impact. Universal might be being built in Bedfordshire, but the ripple effect could be much, much wider.
How far do you think the impact will spread? Northampton? Milton Keynes? Cambridge? Maybe even further?
