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A significant new theme park planned in Bedfordshire is expected to attract millions of visitors and generate thousands of jobs, but with this growth comes a substantial increase in sewage that the local water treatment infrastructure is currently ill-equipped to handle. The facility closest to the Universal park site in Bedfordshire is already operating at full capacity, prompting urgent calls for accelerated upgrades to prevent environmental and community impacts.
Located on a former brickworks site at Stewartby, roughly six miles south of Bedford, the government approved the park’s planning permission last December. Scheduled to open in 2031, the park is set to become one of the world’s largest, featuring attractions inspired by famous films such as James Bond and Jurassic World. The park’s operators anticipate eight million visitors in its opening year, with this number possibly rising to 12 million by 2051, alongside the creation of 8,000 permanent jobs.
Anglian Water, responsible for managing sewage services in the area, has stated that the Bedford Water Recycling Centre (WRC) will require a major expansion to cope with the added demand generated by the park. Currently authorized to discharge approximately 35 million litres of treated sewage daily during fair weather conditions, the plant is already “at its limit,” according to Geoff Darch, Anglian Water’s head of strategic asset planning. He described the park’s arrival as akin to adding a “small town” to the area, necessitating serious consideration and swift regulatory approval for necessary infrastructure improvements.
Concerns about sewage capacity are further highlighted by local environmental advocates and residents. Simon White, president of Bedford’s Star Rowing Club, notes an increase in sewage spills into the River Great Ouse, which often occur during heavy rainfall when treatment plants become overwhelmed. He cites instances of club members falling ill, likely due to contact with contaminated water. Similarly, Gerry Sansom, a former chair of the Bedfordshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, condemns the current practice of using the river as a sewage outlet and stresses the importance of preserving water quality and biodiversity.
While Anglian Water has approval from regulator Ofwat to invest between £70 million and £80 million in expanding the Bedford WRC by about 50% by 2035, this expansion is funded through customer bills that recently increased by 19%. Darch remains confident that the treatment works will be upgraded in time for the park’s opening but acknowledges the need to expedite the usual regulatory process to meet the fast-developing timeline. Both local MPs, Mohammad Yasin and Richard Fuller, recognize the park’s potential benefits and emphasize the urgency of enhancing sewage capacity to support the project responsibly.
Ofwat confirmed that although Anglian Water has yet to formally submit detailed plans for further expansion specifically related to the theme park, it remains flexible enough to consider new infrastructure demands. The regulator and other stakeholders are expected to work
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