Project Universal Xtra

20/01/2026

Bedford, making movie magic!

20/01/2026

Universal Studios is coming!

Out of the rubble, the future rises.

An old industrial past, stripped back to concrete and steel, making way for something extraordinary. This is the quiet moment before the magic, where a world-class theme park begins to take shape.

From industry to imagination. From the past to the future.
This is where Universal Studios UK is born.

01/12/2025

Over at the Aldi Distribution Centre construction site in Wixhams, things are really kicking into gear—and it’s happening right next door to where the new Wixhams railway station will (finally!) rise in the coming years. 🚆

You can already see heavy plant machinery hard at work, shifting huge volumes of soil as the site takes shape. The sheet piling cranes are especially impressive—holding each massive steel sheet in place while the pile driver hammers them deep underground, creating the reinforced ground levels needed before the main structures can begin.

Once those foundations and concrete slabs are set… expect this development to shoot upward very quickly. 🏗️✨

If you love following local construction, regeneration, and major builds beyond the Universal umbrella, make sure you’re following Project Universal XTRA for more updates like this and a closer look at the projects transforming our towns.

👉 Give us a follow and stay tuned—there’s plenty more coming!

18/10/2025

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎

Chris Hunter, George Wilcocks, Sue Benson, Martin Priest

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community, fans

12/10/2025

✨ Thanks to everyone who’s messaged me about the Cardington Sheds and the buzz that Netflix is filming part of the new Narnia series there! 🦁🎬

From what you’ve all shared, it sounds promising that filming is indeed happening inside.

Local folks — keep your eyes peeled 👀 for Daniel Craig around town, just in case he pops by! Word is that the main production is based at Shepperton Studios, with the massive sets (and probably some of the magic!) taking shape right here in Cardington.

The series is rumored to be released on Netflix in November 2026.

Exciting times for Bedford! 🌟

11/10/2025

Have You Spotted the ‘OT’ Signs Around Bedford? Here’s What Might Be Going On 👀

If you’ve been driving around Bedford recently, you may have noticed some mysterious ‘OT’ signs appearing near Cardington Studios — and even around other parts of town. Locals have been buzzing about what they could mean, and there’s growing speculation that they’re linked to Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Netflix adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia.

🦁 Could It Be Narnia?

The ‘OT’ initials are believed to be connected to the project’s working title, Ordinary Times — a codename that several productions use to disguise high-profile shoots. Multiple sources suggest that filming for the new Narnia series is taking place inside Hangar 2 at Cardington Studios, just outside Bedford.

Production is thought to be running from mid-October through to Christmas, with the ‘OT’ markers reportedly guiding cast and crew to the set. There are also whispers that off-site filming could take place around Bedford, suggesting that parts of the town itself may appear in the finished production. While nothing has been officially confirmed, the timing and activity around Cardington fit neatly with what’s known about the scale and ambition of Gerwig’s fantasy project.

🎬 Why Cardington Studios?

The choice of Cardington Studios makes perfect sense for a production of this size. The site’s vast hangars are among the largest indoor filming spaces in Europe, originally built to house airships during World War I. With ceilings reaching an incredible 158 feet — more than three times higher than those at Shepperton Studios — they’re perfect for creating the kind of enormous, detailed sets a world like Narnia demands.

Over the years, Cardington has hosted a number of major blockbusters, including Inception, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and The Dark Knight. Its mix of history, scale, and flexibility has made it a go-to destination for productions that need both room and secrecy.

📍 Bedford’s Star Turn

Whether or not these ‘OT’ signs really do point the way to Narnia, it’s clear that Bedford and Cardington Studios are once again playing a starring role in international filmmaking. The town’s quiet transformation into a hub for creative production shows no signs of slowing down — and locals might just find themselves living a little closer to the magic of Narnia than they think.

So next time you see an ‘OT’ sign around Bedford, keep your eyes peeled… the wardrobe door could be nearer than you realise.

19/09/2025

As requested, a few shots looking over Wixams. Taken earlier today, 19th September 2025.

10/09/2025

Construction of the new Aldi distrubtion store at Wixams is underway. The £75m, 950,000 sq.ft site will create around 750 jobs in the community.

The distribution center is being built next door to the Wixams/Universal Studios railway station.

03/09/2025

The new Parish of Great Denham was created in 2007. Is it walkable to the Universal Studios site? Yes. Would I want to do it every day if I worked there? No, it's a bit too far for a walkable commute but it is an easy and pleasant cycle ride and is around 2.5 miles away.

01/09/2025

The photo is from Kempston Mill. We used to go fishing there as kids. Good times.

Where am I today?