[🌎 Universal GB] General Discussion

[xtpower]

The government has published a "statement of reasons" explaining the conduct of the consultation on Universal's planning application, a summary of consultation responses, the main considerations they took in to account when examining the planning application, the environmental effects and monitoring and mitigation of the parks construction and operations when reaching their decision to approve the planning application. You can see the statement of reasons here. 've not read it word for word as It's quite lengthy, and it's probably for planning permission geeks only.

I'm perusing it now. Right from the off there was lots of support.

Of the circa 400 Citizen Space survey responses, around 75% supported the development, around 16% objected and the rest were neutral. Two-thirds of online respondents said they lived locally.

I expected the approval to drop quite a bit from the Universal public consultation, as it seems the NIMBY's basically ignored it because they thought the project was never gonna happen.

*edit* Not sure whether positive or negative, but EWR are adamant that Universal leave the 'safe-guarded land alone'.

“…must not include development on any part of the EWR Safeguarded Land unless the details of such development have been approved by the Secretary of State for Transport following engagement with EWR.”

When read in conjunction with EWR company’s aspirations of developing a station by 2040, this amounted to a request to sterilise all safeguarded land within the site prior to, and even indefinitely beyond, 2040 unless approval is given by the Secretary of State for Transport. This would mean that two Secretaries of State would need to agree to any development on the safeguarded land.

*2nd edit* Going through it and there were not alot of objectors (still got loads to go through). But ASDA actually objected.

ASDA objected to the development on the grounds that the proposals had not adequately demonstrated that they would be safe from a traffic management and safety or a health and safety perspective. The response also suggests that there has not been sufficient evidence that the proposals are satisfactory from an environmental health and existing business operation perspective. Specific concerns include highway safety; danger from hazardous substances; and conflict with the established environmental health regime.

*3rd edit* This probably the most pertinent section for those who are worried for other UK Parks.

It is not expected that the proposed ERC would materially divert trade from other existing theme parks in the UK, which are aimed at a different market and provide an entirely different experience in terms of scale and nature.

It seems the prevailing thought here is that the other UK Parks can co-exist with UNiversal.

 

[jon81uk]

Going through it and there were not alot of objectors (still got loads to go through). But ASDA actually objected.

Asda, Argos & Sainsbury's all have large warehouses nearby so its understandable they would be concerned about traffic.