Planning documents show Universal seriously considered land near M1 Junction 14, but talks fell through and Bedford’s larger site and transport plans made it the stronger fit.
Universal Almost Chose Milton Keynes – So How Did Bedford Win?
It's one of the biggest "what ifs" in the history of Universal United Kingdom Resort.
Before Universal settled on the former Kempston Hardwick Brickworks site in Bedfordshire, planning documents reveal that the company was seriously considering an alternative location on the north-eastern edge of Milton Keynes.
The site, referred to in the documents as the "Newport Road site", was located close to Junction 14 of the M1 and appears to have covered land in the area between the motorway and Moulsoe. Today, much of that area is earmarked for housing and mixed-use development as part of Milton Keynes' future expansion plans.
At first glance, it looked like a strong contender. The location had excellent motorway access, sat close to Milton Keynes itself, and was planned to benefit from major future transport improvements.
However, the planning documents reveal that Universal and the landowners were unable to agree commercially acceptable terms, meaning a deal could not be reached. The site has since been allocated for alternative development, effectively taking it off the table.
But there may have been another reason why Bedford ultimately proved more attractive.
The same documents reveal that Universal had a very specific list of requirements when searching for a UK location. The company wanted a site with more than 200 acres of land, relatively flat terrain, good motorway access, railway connections and a location capable of attracting visitors from across the UK.
While the Newport Road site appears to have met those minimum requirements, it was only just over the 200-acre threshold Universal had set.
The Bedfordshire site was on an entirely different scale.
Universal initially acquired around 480 acres before expanding its holdings through neighbouring land options and purchases. Today, the company controls approximately 662 acres around the former Kempston Hardwick Brickworks site, giving it more than three times the minimum land area it was seeking.
That extra space provides room not only for the theme park itself, but also for hotels, entertainment districts, backstage facilities, transport infrastructure, future expansion areas and everything else needed to support a destination resort expected to attract millions of visitors every year.
Transport links also played a major role in Bedford's favour. The resort will benefit from improvements to the A421, a new dedicated junction, upgrades to local roads, and improved rail connectivity through East West Rail and the nearby Wixams station.
Location was another key factor. More than half of the UK's population lives within a two-hour drive of Bedford, while London is less than an hour away by train.
All of this helped create the business case for what is now one of the largest private investments in UK tourism history.
Universal plans to invest around £5 billion before the resort opens in 2031, with a further £1 billion expected to be spent on future expansions. The company estimates the project could generate almost £50 billion in economic benefits for the UK economy by 2055 while supporting around 28,000 jobs.
Looking back now, it's fascinating to think how close things came to being very different. Had negotiations gone another way, Universal United Kingdom Resort might have been built near Junction 14 of the M1 instead of Bedford.
Instead, Bedford secured what could become one of the most significant leisure and tourism developments Europe has seen in decades.
Do you think Universal made the right choice with Bedford, or would the Newport Road site near Milton Keynes have worked just as well?
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