The UK government on Wednesday pledged £1.3 billion in infrastructure and community funding to support Comcast’s planned £5 billion Universal United Kingdom Resort in Bedfordshire, a project expected to create 28,000 jobs and generate nearly £50 billion in economic benefits by 2055.

The funding package is designed to support the construction of Comcast’s first Universal theme park in Europe, which is scheduled to open in 2031 on the site of a former brickworks near Bedford. Government ministers described the development as one of the largest investments ever made in the UK tourism sector, while Comcast has committed a further £1 billion in capital spending during the resort’s first decade of operation.

According to the UK government, £400 million will come from the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund and £438 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for community infrastructure projects. The Department for Transport will spend an estimated £474 million upgrading regional road and rail links, including improvements to Wixams station and the A421. The grants will only be paid once the resort opens and associated infrastructure commitments have been completed.

Government estimates indicate the project will create about 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 permanent roles once operational. Comcast expects approximately 80 per cent of employees to be recruited from Bedfordshire and neighbouring areas, while the resort is forecast to attract millions of visitors annually, including more than one million from overseas.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.”

Brian Roberts, chair of Comcast Corporation, said: “This historic partnership is a special moment for our company as we bring our first Universal theme park and resort to Europe.”

The Financial Times reported that Comcast had considered several countries before selecting the Bedford site for its first European resort. The government hopes the development will strengthen economic growth across the Oxford-Cambridge corridor and increase investment in the UK’s creative industries.

Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: “Today marks a significant milestone on our journey to bring Universal United Kingdom Resort ... to the UK.” The company has already employed more than 100 people on the project as preparatory works continue ahead of full-scale construction.

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