Timeline and Project Scope

• Land Acquisition & Announcement: Universal Destinations & Experiences secured approximately 476–480 acres in late 2023, marking an early but decisive step toward the project.
• Government & Community Support: In April 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly endorsed the scheme, and since its announcement, local consultations yielded tremendous public backing, with one survey showing 92% of residents in favour.
• Construction & Opening Timeline: Construction is slated to begin in 2026, with a target opening in 2031, subject to planning approval.

Features and Impact

The resort is set to include a full-scale theme park with multiple themed lands, cutting-edge rides, immersive storytelling, and expansive entertainment zones. Alongside this will be a 500-room hotel, a vibrant retail-dining-entertainment precinct (akin to a CityWalk), and future potential for water parks and convention spaces.

This massive development is estimated to generate up to £50 billion in economic value by 2055 and create about 28,000 jobs, spanning construction, tourism, AI, and hospitality sectors. In its inaugural year, the park aims to attract some 8.5 million visitors.