Universal’s first European theme park will be built in Bedford, halfway between the UK’s most famous universities.

As well as bringing Despicable Me’s Minions and Jurassic Park’s dinosaurs to the country, the government has said the new park will help “to unleash the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge corridor”, a priority once again as set out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in January.

In that speech, Rachel Reeves confirmed there will be a focus on delivering infrastructure – including homes, reservoirs and the East-West Rail – in the area.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Image: PA With this latest announcement some have said the contentious Oxford-Cambridge Expressway should be revived.

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What is the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway?

A proposed dual carriageway between the A34 near Oxford and the A14 near Cambridge, the project was cancelled by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in March 2021, despite almost £30 million having already been spent on it.

MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran was one of several major critics of the expressway and when it was scrapped called it a “major win” for the local community and the environment.

MP Layla Moran has previously spoken out against the road plans MP Layla Moran has previously spoken out against the road plans (Image: Aaron Chown/PA) South Oxfordshire District Council and the Campaign to Protect Rural England also opposed the project, with many people east of Oxford regularly protesting the plans. 

Why might this theme park change things?

Universal Studios is planning on opening the theme park near Bedford in 2031.

The film company – based in America with five ‘live’ parks across the globe – and the government claim the project will give an estimated £50 billion boost to the economy.

Both add that it should create around 28,000 jobs across creative, hospitality and construction industries, with the BBC reporting there could be both James Bond and Paddington attractions.

It also, according to deputy political editor at GB News Tom Harwood, makes it “less and less politically tenable” for the government to maintain the cancellation of the expressway.

Writing on X last week, Mr Harwood called the lack of road connections between Oxford and Cambridge “genuinely insane” and said that the new East-West Rail connection – set to be partially launched this year – isn’t enough.

Many of those replying to his post agreed and he signed off by urging the government to “build the road”.

Will anything happen?

Though many of the replies to Mr Harwood’s post were positive there has been no announcement from the government about reviving the expressway.

Currently plans to enhance transport infrastructure to the new park focus on the expansion of London Luton Airport, announced a few weeks ago, as well as the East-West Railway.

The proposals for the theme park remain subject to a planning decision from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.