Universal Studios is considering the idea of constructing a theme park and resort on an old brickworks site in Bedfordshire.

The company, Universal Destinations and Experiences, has bought 480 acres of land in Stewartby and is currently in the initial stages of assessing its feasibility, according to the BBC.

Although the land was initially approved for the construction of 1,000 homes, they were never built.

The former industrial site, which once had 167 chimneys for brick production, saw the final four chimneys demolished in 2021.

The choice of this location is attributed to its excellent transportation links to London and Europe, with over half of the UK population residing within a two-hour radius, including just a 45-minute drive from London.

Additionally, its proximity to Luton Airport has been highlighted as a strategic factor.

A spokeswoman for the company behind Universal Studios told the BBC: "We recently acquired land in Bedford and are at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site.

"It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community.

"We are always looking at new locations around the world, including in Europe, and the UK is an attractive place for a potential project.

"The UK has a large population, creative industries, strong tourism, and transportation infrastructure with close proximity to other parts of Europe.

"We support Bedford's vision of becoming a prosperous place to live, work and visit," the statement added.

"We take a proactive approach to partnering with local communities and stakeholders (like Bedford Borough Council) when pursuing potential projects."

Tom Wootton, the elected mayor of Bedford Borough Council, told the BBC: "The suggestion of a major business investment is of course positive, nevertheless these are early days and much detailed work is required before any decisions are made.

"We very much welcome and are excited by the interest from Universal and the immense potential for it to be transformative for the borough.”

"We're committed to ensure that any plans align with the best interests of our residents."