The 476-acre site in Bedfordshire is expected to become the largest theme park in Europe and if all the plans are agreed construction could begin next year ahead of a target opening in 2031. Bedford Borough Council voted to approve the plans at a meeting last week, but Bedford Mayor Wootton has insisted the vote was taken with residents in mind and local officials are determined not to let the theme park have a negative effect on the area.
In his column for the Bedford Times, Wootton wrote: "At Full Council last week, Bedford Borough Council unanimously approved its consultation response to the Universal Destinations Experiences Special Development Order.
"The response has a strong resident-first approach on parking controls, including the option to roll out Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), active travel planning, robust noise monitoring, and potential measures to prevent an Airbnb free-for-all that could hollow out communities.
"With the response now agreed, we will work with the Government and the developer to maximise all possible benefits and turn this opportunity into jobs, investment, and the best possible deal for Bedford Borough."
Speaking to the BBC after the vote, Wootton addressed that concerns that local roads could be overwhelmed by the estimated eight million annual visitors to the park - insisting new roads will be built and public transport to the area will be much improved with the addition of a new train station.
He said: "You don't arrive at a theme park calm and relaxed if you have spent an hour in a traffic jam.
"[Universal want guests to feel] at ease on holiday from the minute they get off the aeroplane."
He also acknowledged there are worries about the park driving up rents and house prices but there are also plans to build around 5,000 new homes in the area.
Wootton said: "The stress on the housing market would come ... [But] hopefully it won't be as bad as some of the naysayers have said ...
"[The local authority is] building lots and lots of houses ... [I'm] fairly sure that rents should not be rising."
