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'Universal park will supercharge county's economy'

Isabella VeronaNorthamptonshire
BBC A person wearing glasses and a blue jacket stands in front of a display of racing cars, karts and motorsport memorabilia.BBC
Richard Clinton, chair of the Northamptonshire LVEP, said jobs in hospitality, engineering and tourism would be generated

Creating a Universal UK resort and theme park in Bedfordshire will "supercharge the economy" in a neighbouring county, an expert says.

West Northamptonshire Council has backed efforts to ensure the area benefits from the £50bn and 28,000 jobs the resort is set to generate for the UK economy.

Richard Clinton, chair of the Northamptonshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), said the development, due to open in 2031, is a huge opportunity for employment and tourism.

He added: "The numbers are quite eye watering and it will have this ripple effect."

Clinton added there are already "fantastic assets" in the county and events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix bring tourism into surrounding Northamptonshire towns.

Mark Arnull, leader of the council, said: "[The project] has the potential to create thousands of jobs, attract visitors from across the globe and provide lasting benefits for our local economy."

Supplied A man stands on a paved walkway in front of a silver DeLorean car displayed behind chain barriers. Behind the car is a black locomotive-style vehicle with large circular windows and the letters “ELB” on the side. There are green trees to the right of the picture. The man is wearing a green T-shirt, blue shorts and sunglasses.Supplied
Lawrence O'Shea moved to Bedford in recent years and "couldn't believe his ears" when he heard the theme park was to be built in Bedfordshire

Theme park fan, Lawrence O'Shea, from Bedford, runs the podcast and website Universally Bedford - a dedicated platform for fans and enthusiasts to keep up-to-date with the development of the park.

He believes there will be "amazing opportunities" for businesses and young people as it will provide post-education options "that wouldn't have existed" without the park.

O'Shea added: "The challenge is on the councils in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire, to make sure they are going to maximise this opportunity.

"It's an immense opportunity to get this right from the start."

UNIVERSAL DESTINATIONS AND EXPERIENCES/COMCAST Artist's impression of the proposed Universal UK Resort showing attractions, buildings and a large central lake.UNIVERSAL DESTINATIONS AND EXPERIENCES/COMCAST
The resort will start off slightly smaller than Universal's Orlando park, but has the potential to expand over time

Arnull and chief executive Martin Henry joined a roundtable with Universal Destinations & Experiences in Bedford earlier this month to discuss how the wider region could maximise the economic benefits.

Arnull said: "The resort has the potential to be truly transformational, and we look forward to playing an active role in shaping the positive impact it can have for our communities and businesses in the years ahead."

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