Fears town could become Airbnb for Universal park

People living in a developing town have set up a new campaign calling for a return to its original vision set out in 1999.

Wixams near Bedford, located close to the planned Universal Studios, opened in 2009 and has 3,000 homes but still no GP surgery.

Tony Rivenell, from Save The Wixams Masterplan, said they wanted "to go back to a self-sustainable town with four independent villages" which did not turn into an Airbnb site for the theme park.

A spokesperson for Urban&Civic, which acquired Wixams in 2025, said it recognised "that infrastructure at Wixams has not historically kept pace with the homes" that had been built.

They added that any "growth" occurring outside of the Wixams development - such as the Universal project - should come with its own "infrastructure provision".

Rivenell said that "there was a lovely vision for a new town and gradually things eroded over time".

He claimed that many of the planned facilities such as schools and healthcare had been reduced, delayed, relocated or removed entirely.

A spokesperson for Urban&Civic said it had submitted applications to Bedford Borough Council for a supermarket by the end of 2029 and thereafter shops, a nursery, community buildings, a town square, sports pitches and courts, play areas and allotments.

Rivenell said that any spare land needed to be identified and safeguarded now for the future use of hospitality, leisure, healthcare and employment space.

Campaigners said the impact of Universal Studios on Wixams had not yet been fully recognised.

Visitor numbers in the area could increase dramatically with the larger Wixams railway station becoming a key gateway location.

The use of Airbnb and short-term accommodation across Wixams would create a large population of temporary residents, they said.

The Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, Blake Stephenson, said that it was "entirely reasonable for residents now to be concerned about how far the Wixams community and town centre plans are from the original masterplan".

He added that the planning system was repeatedly letting everyone down and it would be "20 years after the first resident moved in before the GP surgery is delivered by the NHS".

Bedford Borough Council has been contacted for comment.

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