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Universal Theme Park Development, confirmed for Bedford

We anticipate that this decision will encourage investment in the region, including for the Waterway Park.

The Waterway runs alongside the Universal development for approximately half a mile. We plan to work with their representatives to explore how both projects will complement each other.

Hilary Chipping, Chair of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust says,

  ‘This is amazing news for businesses and communities in our areas. The Universal Theme Park will provide jobs for local people and attract many visitors to our area. The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, which supports the delivery of a new 26Km waterway park, part of which will run alongside the Theme Park, is excited about the opportunity to work with Universal Studios to enhance the leisure and tourism offer and provide opportunities for water transfer and flood mitigation’.

Can the Waterway Park help combat future drought?

The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has been an advocate for a new waterway park linking Bedford and Milton Keynes since 1996. In recent years we have increasing argued that it should be given serious consideration as a piece of green/blue infrastructure that can achieve many positive outcomes:

      ●   an economic boost for the region through the establishment of a new navigation and recreation location

     ●    increased biodiversity through the creation of new wetlands and parkland

     ●    excellent cycle and walking routes through Marston Vale

     ●    improved water management opportunities

It is this last benefit which needs to come to the forefront right now. The country is facing serious drought and all the predictions are that we are facing more extended hot and arid periods. Our countryside, our businesses and we all need water. A new link between the River Great Ouse in Bedford and the Grand Union Canal and rivers in Milton Keynes could be a crucial resource. The capacity of the link to help remove water during flood and redistribute during drought is at last being looked at more seriously.

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Outline Business Case backs the Waterway Park as a Highly-Valued Investment for Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor

New Business Case Backs £475M Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway as High-Value Investment for Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor

A newly released Outline Business Case for the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway confirms that the proposed 26km canal would offer outstanding value for money, delivering £2.40 in benefits for every £1 invested.

The business case sets out a compelling economic, environmental, and social case for the new waterway. Designed to link the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse at Bedford, the waterway would form a central feature of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor — one of the UK’s most dynamic development areas.

The outline business case can be accessed via following link –  New BMK Waterway Business Case