Global law firm DLA Piper advised the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on its GBP1.3 billion investment for the development of the first Comcast NBCUniversal theme park in Europe to be known as the Universal United Kingdom Resort, which will create tens of thousands of jobs and entertain millions of people.
The Bedfordshire-based project – which is expected to become the UK’s most popular tourist attraction – forms part of a multi‑billion‑pound investment. Under the agreement, Comcast NBCUniversal will invest more than GBP5 billion in an expected five-year construction and a further GBP1 billion over the first decade of operation. The UK Government will invest GBP1.3 billion in regional community infrastructure to enable the development and support of long-term growth in the surrounding area. This package is likely to be one of the most significant investments made in the United Kingdom during this Parliament.
The development represents a significant opportunity for the UK economy, with the creation of an estimated 20,000 construction jobs and a further 8,000 operational roles once the theme park opens in 2031.
Beyond employment, Universal anticipates with immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and hospitality, the site will deliver substantial economic benefits, boosting the UK economy by nearly GBP50 billion by 2055, further reinforcing its long-term impact on growth and regional prosperity.
A UK-US multidisciplinary DLA Piper team, jointly led by Sarah Bell, Government Contracting Relationship Partner, IPT, and Colin Wilson, Global Co-Chair, Finance advised DCMS on the transaction working closely with the Government Legal Department (GLD).
“It was an honour to work as an integral part of the DCMS and GLD team end to end on such a unique and transformational project. It demonstrates not only our ability to support His Majesty’s Government on the most complex of transactions but also our ability to collaborate and deliver as one team for our Government clients.” said Sarah Bell.
Commenting on the significance of the funding investment, Colin Wilson said: “This landmark investment demonstrates our firm’s ability to attract and deliver globally significant and complex first of kind projects. The development is expected to transform the UK’s visitor economy, attracting millions of international visitors and will generate significant long-term economic impact, supporting jobs, infrastructure and regional growth, while delivering meaningful benefits for local communities and we are proud to have supported DCMS and GLD with the complex investment arrangements with Universal.”
Colin and Sarah were supported in the UK by partners Pippa Hill (Finance), Emma Dowden-Teale and Sam Szlezinger (both Lit & Reg), Monique Sutherland and Sophie Kelly (both Real Estate), legal directors, Steven Condie (IPT), Lorna Pattison (Finance), Sophie Murtough (Real Estate), and Martyn Scott (Lit & Reg), senior associates, Matthew Cliff (IPT), and Harry Campbell (Lit & Reg), associates, Jessica McArthur and Luke Prince (all Finance) and trainee solicitor, Bree Livesey (Finance) in addition to working closely with the team in the US comprising of US partner Joe Stefano, of counsel Stefanie Karidis and associate Emily Jones.
