PLANS have been dropped for the new Universal theme park coming to Bedfordshire.
The attraction will be divided into four main land areas known as the Core Zone, Lake Zone, West Gateway Zone and the East Gateway Zone.
Within these zones will be the theme park; retail and entertainment destinations; visitor accommodation including hotels, camping and caravanning; sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities and conference and convention spaces.
The plans state: “[Guests will ]experience blockbuster attractions, adrenaline-pumping coasters, and mind-blowing spectaculars.
“They’ll come face-to-face with incredible creatures, heroes, and villains.
“They’ll discover great food, new laughs, new ways to play, and step into immersive worlds they’ve only ever dreamed of.”
The application also expresses that in the first year, 8.5million visitors are expected to the Core Zone.
Then, in future years, 12.5million visitors are expected annually.
The split between domestic and international visitors is expected to be 70 per cent and 30 per cent respectively in the first year.
Then 52 per cent and 48 per cent respectively in future years.
The attraction is also due to be open each day between 9am and 9pm, with visitors starting to arrive at 7am and depart up until 10pm.
Hotel arrivals would take place later, at 3pm, to coincide with check-in times.
The Universal UK theme park is expected to open in 2031.
Rides, experiences and attractions
Many parts of the application reference what will be included in the theme park.
This includes indoor and outdoor rides, attractions, games and pools.
There is also set to be events spaces for parades, shows and displays.
Entertainment venues are set to include theatres and cinemas and sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities are also planned.
Other entertainment venues suggested are music and dance venues, nightclubs and even tattoo parlours.
Planned indoor and outdoor cultural spaces include exhibition spaces, art galleries and museums.
Under the accessibility section, the proposal also includes ride examples such as a Men in Black experience, One Fish Two Fish fairground ride and a Jurassic Park water-based ride.
Interestingly, the document also reveals that the site could have media and film production facilities, stating: “For instance a building may be used as a sound stage, film studio, event space or hosting a Universal Destinations & Experiences show or even a mixture of these uses.”
The application goes on to explain how the use of some buildings at the site may vary seasonally, “for instance during events such as Halloween Horror Nights”.
There will also be a maximum height of anything in the theme park of 115metres.
Core Zone
The Core Zone will be the central part of the attraction and is set “to contain the theme park, amusement park and/or water park”.
The plans also show that it could have an entry plaza, car and coach parking, a 500-room hotel, valet parking service and a transport hub.
Lake Zone
The Lake Zone will be the northernmost part of the attraction.
In this zone, the proposed plans include business hotels with 2000 rooms, further hotels and accommodation with 3370 bedrooms and entertainment complex support.
This zone is also set to include the Convention Centre, which will span across 55,000square-metres.
Within these zones will be the theme park; retail and entertainment destinations; visitor accommodation including hotels, camping and caravanning; sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities and conference and convention spaces[/caption]
Any shops in this zone will have a maximum size of 1,100square-metres.
In addition, this zone would have a new wetland habitat.
East Gateway Zone
The East Gateway Zone will be located in the eastern area of the Bedfordshire site, located near the village of Wixams.
The East Gateway Zone would also adjoin the planned site of the new Wixams Rail Station.
West Gateway Zone
The westernmost area of the site will feature the West Gateway Zone.
This zone is set to include a petrol station with 16 pumps, restaurants up to 5,866square-metres, a 200-bedroom hotel and entertainment resort complex support.
Any shops in this zone will have a maximum size of 1,100square-metres.
Accessibility and inclusion
Universal is also committed to “creating a theme park experience that’s inclusive and accessible to everyone, ensuring that all our guests can embark on unforgettable journeys regardless of their abilities”.
The plans state: “[Guests will ]experience blockbuster attractions, adrenaline-pumping coasters, and mind-blowing spectaculars”[/caption]
For the UK park this means that there will be wide and smooth pathways for wheelchairs, ramps and lifts, accessible toilets in each toilet block and accessible hotel accommodation.
Rides would each have one row or seat that can accommodate wheelchair users or visitors with walking impairments.
Assistive technology would also be available throughout the park such as captioning, audio description, tactile maps and a phone app.
Transport
The overall site also plans to include a new junction on the A421, an expanded railway station on the Thameslink/Midland Main Line at Wixams, improvements to roads and potential land for a new railway station on the proposed EWR Bletchley to Bedford line (if this were to happen in the future).
The vision includes a four-platform, four-track station at Wixams with a new station building.
The application also reveals that the Core Zone could have a transport hub, where a “rail-related development may be provided”.
Pedestrian and cycle routes are set to be added to the park too.
In the mean time The Sun’s Sophie Swietochowski spent three days at Universal’s huge new £7bn theme park and has shared all the things worth doing… and the bits to skip.
The Universal UK theme park is expected to open in 2031[/caption]
