Could be first Common theme park in all of Europe
A brand new Common theme park could also be coming to the UK and the leisure and points of interest big is asking Britons for his or her enter.
Final 12 months, Common bought a 476-acre parcel of land outdoors of Bedford, England, about 55 miles north of London, to discover the potential for constructing a brand new theme park and resort. It will not solely be the primary Common theme park within the U.Okay., however the first in all of Europe.
Over the past a number of months, the corporate says it’s been researching the feasibility of such a venture and discussing it with native and nationwide stakeholders.
Whereas the venture stays simply an concept at the moment, Common is now asking for the general public to chime in with their opinions on how a possible park may have an effect on their lives and the way the corporate might finest honor and have a good time the area in a respectful method.
“Now we have began a public engagement interval on our potential theme park and resort expertise in Bedford,” a Common Locations & Experiences spokesperson advised Nexstar. “This represents the subsequent step in our ongoing due diligence and feasibility work and is a chance for us to share early considering on our plans and safe suggestions.”
The park could be constructed south of Bedford on a 700-acre piece of property which incorporates the 476 acres bought final 12 months and a smaller parcel that Common has the choice to amass.
The corporate mentioned the realm is already allotted for improvement and has the flat topography {that a} large-scale theme park resort would require.
The positioning has easy accessibility to quick passenger rail service connecting to London and London Luton Airport, and a brand new regional rail venture at the moment beneath development that may join Cambridge to Oxford would additionally present further rail service.
The Bedford area has a wealthy blue-collar historical past, Common says, and was as soon as the principal provider of bricks all through the British development business. Whereas these brick vegetation had been torn down many years in the past, the business left an indelible mark on those that known as the area house and nonetheless do to today.
Common says it’s desirous about incorporating a few of the bricks nonetheless discovered on-site into a few of the potential buildings and designs and even incorporate different elements of the city’s historical past into foods and drinks amenities or future points of interest.
For Common, England is a logical place to develop a park and improve its affect. The corporate says 38 million U.Okay. residents traveled to its theme parks across the globe this previous 12 months, spending as a lot as £34 billion ($42.3 billion) yearly.
The UK is an particularly engaging marketplace for Common as a consequence of its sturdy tourism and transportation infrastructure that hyperlinks seamlessly to the remainder of Europe. Comcast, the father or mother firm of Common, already has a robust presence within the nation with NBCUniversal and Sky each having headquarters there.
Common says {that a} new park in the UK could be mutually helpful for the corporate and its residents, emphasizing its potential to carry hundreds of jobs and improve tourism all through the area.
Any development, Common says, could be completed with cautious consideration to native wildlife and ecology, with landscaping and devoted inexperienced area a core element of any future plans. Comcast beforehand vowed to develop into carbon-neutral by 2035 and it says its theme parks play a giant function in these targets.
Native infrastructure would additionally see important funding, together with the development of no less than one new rail station and devoted direct roadways that might accommodate the majority of the park’s site visitors, in response to paperwork posted on Common’s official web site for the venture.
Locals are requested to take part in a brief survey to offer suggestions on the proposal, whether or not to point out assist, opposition or to supply enter on the way it might be improved.
“Whereas it is going to nonetheless be a while earlier than we resolve whether or not or not we proceed, we look ahead to additional participating with the group on this potential improvement,” the spokesperson mentioned.
If there may be enough public assist, and if Common determines constructing a brand new park could be a wise monetary transfer, development might take between 5 and 6 years. In constructing a park in historic Bedford, Common would additionally develop into everlasting tenants of the area, writing a brand new chapter within the city’s historical past.
“If the venture strikes ahead, we’ll develop into long-term members of the local people and look ahead to future partnership,” an data packet posted on-line reads.
Members of the group can present remark by both filling out the survey on-line, reaching out by cellphone or e-mail, or requesting and mailing a paper copy.
Responses are due by Might 3.
Any and all future updates might be posted on-line on Common’s devoted venture web site, the corporate says.