London — US media large Comcast Company has chosen an space north of London for its first Common theme park and resort in Europe, pledging to construct rides and points of interest primarily based on its film franchises that it hopes will rival Disneyland Paris.
The group, residence to the Jurassic Park and Harry Potter film franchises, mentioned the park in Bedford would create 20,000 jobs throughout building and an additional 8,000 throughout the hospitality and artistic industries when it opens in 2031.
It’s anticipated to draw 8.5-million guests in its first yr, a quantity solely exceeded in Europe by Disneyland to the east of the French capital.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and finance minister Rachel Reeves joined Comcast bosses to announce the theme park on Wednesday.
“This may drive development right here and throughout the nation,” Starmer mentioned.
The Labour authorities has pledged to spice up funding in infrastructure because it was elected final yr, and Britain’s financial system wants contemporary momentum after the very best tax-raising funds since 1993 in October dented enterprise confidence.
The federal government has pledged to hurry up planning selections and the announcement comes after it accredited the enlargement of Luton Airport, which is about 30km from the Common web site, boosting the world’s worldwide connectivity.
“This (theme park) is our ‘Plan for Change’ in motion, bringing funding, bringing alternative, development, jobs and, after all, pleasure to Britain,” Starmer mentioned.
Common has 5 resorts and parks, within the US states of California and Florida in addition to in Singapore, Japan and China, providing rides and points of interest primarily based on its film franchises.
Plans for the brand new web site embrace a theme park, that includes a number of themed lands, a 500-room lodge and a retail, eating and leisure complicated.
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh confirmed Starmer the plan in London on Tuesday, saying he “couldn’t be extra excited” to create a Common theme park and resort within the coronary heart of the UK.
Comcast purchased a 500 acre former brickworks in Bedfordshire, close to London, in 2023 and had been in talks with the federal government since final yr. It already owns Sky, which is Europe’s greatest pay-TV enterprise.
The theme park and resort are topic to planning permission, the federal government mentioned.
Reuters
