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’.
For more information:
About the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Park project The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Park will establish a new blue/green multifunctional parkland corridor by creating a purpose-built waterway linking the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes with the River Great Ouse in Bedford. It will enhance opportunities for strategic flood risk management and for water transfer from Wales and the West Midlands to the drier areas of East Anglia, where water scarcity is a significant issue. The Waterway Park will therefore provide resilience against flooding and climate change as well as benefiting the environment by improving biodiversity and creating new wildlife habitats. The route of the waterway will be significant for active travel and provide enhanced well-being for new and existing residents by creating attractive waterside locations for homes and businesses. The Waterway Park will provide a new facility for water-based recreation and leisure pursuits, a boost for tourism in the area and, last but not least, the opportunity to close a small but very significant gap in the UK navigable waterway network. About the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust
The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust was established in 1995 to promote the development of a contiguous waterway park which will link the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse in Bedford through a series of purpose-built waterways connecting up existing lakes along the route. The Trust is a company limited by guarantee and is a registered charity. For more information on the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust and project, including maps and updates.