Universal Studios announces plans to open huge theme park in the UK
Thrill seekers - it's time to take a deep breath - as Universal Studios has announced its exciting new plans to open a huge theme park in the UK.
From 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter' to the 'Men in Black Alien Attack' - we can hopefully expect a number of big-name rides to coming to our island very soon.
Currently, the Hollywood studio has parks in the US, China, Singapore and Japan.
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Universal Destinations and Experiences has said that its 'exploring' the idea of building a park and resort on a former brickworks site in Bedfordshire.
The company said they had purchased 480 acres of land at Stewartby as it was 'always looking at new locations around the world'.
A spokeswoman for the company behind Universal Studios said: "We recently acquired land in Bedford and are at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site.
"It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community."
In a statement, the company said: "We are always looking at new locations around the world, including in Europe, and the UK is an attractive place for a potential project.
"The UK has a large population, creative industries, strong tourism, and transportation infrastructure with close proximity to other parts of Europe."
The area was selected due to its 'transportation connectivity to London and Europe with more than half of the UK population within two hours, including just 45 minutes outside of London'.
"We support Bedford's vision of becoming a prosperous place to live, work and visit," the statement added.
The company said the location wouldn't be too far from Luton Airport, for ease-of-transport.
The US-based company explained: "We take a proactive approach to partnering with local communities and stakeholders (like Bedford Borough Council) when pursuing potential projects."
Tom Wootton, the elected mayor of Bedford Borough Council, said: "The suggestion of a major business investment is of course positive, nevertheless these are early days and much detailed work is required before any decisions are made.
"We very much welcome and are excited by the interest from Universal and the immense potential for it to be transformative for the borough.
"We're committed to ensure that any plans align with the best interests of our residents."
Topics: Theme Park, UK News, Universal Pictures
Anish Vij