Liberal Democrat Universal amendment passed at Extraordinary Full Council meeting
Councillor Henry Vann proposed an amendment to council’s planning response to the proposed Universal Studios Special Development Order (SDO) at an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council (21st August).
Calling for the creation of a special Universal Project sub-committee to deal with maximising the benefits of the Universal development, the amendment passed with cross- party support.
The full text of the amendment is below:
Amendment to Full Council, 21st August 2025, Item 3. Entertainment Resort Complex – Universal Destinations and Experiences – Special Development Order Statutory Consultation Response
Full Council is asked to:
(i) Recommend to Executive that it approves the consultation response to the Secretary of State MHCLG set out in Appendix E subject to technical changes set out below.
(ii) Confirm the support for the development but acknowledging that there will be adverse impacts which will need to be weighed against the significant benefits to the local areas and to the local, regional and national economy
(iii) Recommend the Chief Executive write to DCMS to request consideration of:
(a) A financial support package to the Council to help mitigate resource needed to manage the local impacts of the development including construction management, local transport plans and measures to manage the housing market during construction
(b) Funding from relevant bodies to enable specific projects to maximise economic benefits and increase capacity in the local health care system, housing offer and local infrastructure improvements, including active travel, and controlled parking, to build on the significant opportunities derived from the proposed development
(iv) Instruct the Executive Director for Environment to bring forward proposals to deal with parking controls in areas around the proposed Universal site, including commencing a consultation process should planning approval be granted.
(v) Instruct the Executive Director for Environment to bring forward proposals as soon as practicable in relation to policy measures to control temporary lets uses in areas around the proposed Universal site, should planning approval be granted.
(c) To delete paragraphs 3.154 and 3.155 from the Consultation response to the Secretary of State MHCLG set out in Appendix E in order to avoid references to the withdrawal of the Local Plan 2040 prior to discussion, albeit acknowledging that a new Local Plan should be commenced without delay.
(d) To delete paragraph 3.120.
To add new recommendation 2.2: That Full Council requests – separate from the Planning Process – that Executive:
i) Work with Universal Destinations and Experiences to develop an accommodation and housing strategy from day one,
ii) Work with Universal Destinations and Experiences and developers of unadopted roads to develop a parking strategy to enable restrictions to be implemented consistently across public and unadopted developments,
iii) produce, separate to the planning process but in the context of the impact of Universal Studios:
- A housing strategy
- An infrastructure strategy
- A frontline service strategy
- A transport strategy
- A finance strategy
iv) negotiate further Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) to support council capacity, including but not limited to planning capacity, and negotiate accommodation strategies informally separate to the planning process with Universal to ensure that sufficient accommodation can be found for workers minimising pressure on local housing stock.
v) produce a quantified proposal, on which basis negotiate a substantial specific funding settlement from the Government for Bedford Borough Council to deal with the impact of the construction and operation of the project, this agreement to be in place as a matter of urgency.
To add new recommendation 2.3: To refer to General Purposes Committee a request to amend the constitution at the earliest opportunity to set up a Universal Project Overview & Scrutiny Committee for all matters connected with the Council’s responsibilities and oversight in relation to the Universal Project, including:
- Maximising the economic benefit
- Securing cultural and educational benefits
- Mitigating the impact of construction
- The need for improved infrastructure
- The impact on housing for local residents
While awaiting the creation of the formal Universal Project Overview and Scrutiny committee, that an informal 8 member politically proportionate overview and scrutiny committee be created with immediate effect, in shadow form. That is:
Conservative 2 places
Liberal Democrat 2 places
Labour 2 places
Green 1 place
Independents 1 place
All above to be appointed in liaison with Chief Executive
All to be drawn from non-executive members