The UK government has committed £1.3bn in taxpayer support for Comcast NBCUniversal's first European theme park, officially named the Universal United Kingdom Resort, to be built on a 500-acre site at Kempston Hardwick, just south of Bedford. The announcement was made at 11 Downing Street, where Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hosted Comcast chair Brian Roberts and Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury to unveil the resort's name and logo. Comcast has committed to investing over £5bn during the five-year construction phase, plus an additional £1bn in capital investment over the first ten years of operation.
The government's £1.3bn contribution is directed towards upgrading local infrastructure and transport links. The package includes a £400m grant from the Regional Growth Fund, payable once the park and resort are open, and a £438m grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for community infrastructure. The project is expected to generate nearly £50bn of economic benefit to the UK [Source: GOV.UK], and is projected to attract more than 8 million visitors a year once operational.
The development is forecast to create 28,000 jobs in total — 20,000 during the five-year construction phase and 8,000 permanent roles once the resort opens in 2031, according to DCMS. Chancellor Reeves said the deal will create tens of thousands of jobs across the construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors. Approximately 80% of employees at the theme park and resort are expected to come from Bedfordshire and the surrounding regions. Over 100 people in the UK have already been employed on the project, with Universal having received expressions of interest from more than 33,000 individuals.
Enabling works on the Bedfordshire site have already begun, with full construction set to follow. Comcast, listed on Nasdaq under the ticker CMCSA, is the US media company behind NBCUniversal and Sky, and had been considering several European countries before committing to the UK. Universal Studios received planning permission for the site in December 2025. DCMS has described the combined Universal and UK government commitment as one of the largest single investments ever made in the UK tourism sector. The project also forms part of the government's Modern Industrial Strategy, which targets an increase in business investment in the creative industries from £17bn to £31bn by 2035.
Sources: Sky News, BBC Business, The Guardian, GOV.UK, Screen Daily, Hollywood Reporter, GB News