Common Studios will construct its first European theme park in Bedfordshire, England, studio officers mentioned Wednesday, previewing a sprawling resort that would mix iconic American manufacturers like “Jurassic Park” with basic British characters like Paddington Bear, Dr. Who and Harry Potter.
Set to open in 2031, British officers mentioned the yet-to-be-named theme park can be Britain’s largest single vacationer attraction. Executives at Comcast, Common’s mum or dad firm, mentioned the 476-acre advanced would come with themed lands, rides, a 500-room lodge, outlets and eating.
Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, hailed the announcement as a lift for his nation’s sluggish economic system and an instance of his authorities’s try to chop via the crimson tape that has lengthy made it expensive and tough to finish advanced tasks in Britain.
“Immediately we closed the deal on a multibillion-pound funding that may see Bedford dwelling to one of many largest leisure parks in Europe,” Mr. Starmer mentioned in a statement, including that the undertaking would create round 28,000 jobs.
The theme park, which Mr. Starmer mentioned would generate practically $64 billion (£50 billion) in income for the world by 2055, is a uncommon shiny spot at a second when the British economic system has been barely growing.
However it is going to be years earlier than the doorways open to the general public as the corporate transforms what’s a naked piece of land about 35 minutes north of London by practice. That delay creates the sort of uncertainty that has generally doomed earlier theme park efforts.
Within the late Eighties, London was thought-about, and finally rejected, as a location for the Euro Disneyland theme park that ultimately was constructed outside of Paris. In 1994, Disney proposed a “Disney’s America” close to the Manassas Nationwide Battlefield Park close to Washington, D.C., however backed off amid intense public backlash from close by residents and members of Congress.
And a theme park proposed in 2012 referred to as The London Resort was never built after years of delays due to environmental issues and allow points.
Mr. Starmer and members of his authorities pressured on Wednesday the advantages of the brand new theme park for individuals within the space.
Lisa Nandy, Britain’s tradition secretary, referred to as it a “landmark funding” and told the BBC that “this isn’t nearly bringing nice American creations to Britain, that is additionally about showcasing nice British creations to the world.”
“These are issues like James Bond, Paddington Bear, these are issues like Harry Potter,” she mentioned. “We’ve bought a lot to be pleased with.”
The success of the undertaking will hinge on attracting thousands and thousands of holiday makers. Studio and authorities officers had been imprecise about what the theme park would appear like.
An artist’s rendering of the park on the corporate’s web site confirmed a number of curler coasters, purchasing and different areas round a big lagoon. However officers declined to be extra particular about what film or tv characters could be a part of the event.
“It’s nonetheless too early within the course of to know the probabilities of featured sights and experiences,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement. “Ought to we safe the required planning approvals, we might affirm the precise particulars at a later stage.”
Common’s different theme parks embody rides that includes characters from the studio’s personal film and TV library. There are “Jurassic Park” rides at parks in Singapore, Japan, China and the US. A few of these parks even have rides that includes characters from “Shrek,” “E.T. the Further-Terrestrial,” “Jaws” and “Again to the Future.”
However a theme park close to London might additionally characteristic characters nearer to the British creativeness. Common has licensed different corporations’ characters, together with these from Nintendo, Harry Potter and Sesame Road, to make use of in rides at its parks. It might do the identical with different British manufacturers like Paddington Bear or Dr. Who.
