Planning documents for the proposed Universal theme park near Bedford state that a ride 377 feet tall could be built.
The ride could be a rollercoaster, given that artist impressions have depicted such a ride for several months.
Currently Thorpe Park’s Hyperia is the tallest UK rollercoaster, at 236 feet. A 377-foot model would be the tallest in Europe.
Universal Destinations & Experiences (UDX) said that the first phase of the theme park was designed to welcome 8.5 million guests annually.
It would open to the public in 2031, if plans are progressed to schedule.
55,000 people are expected to attend at peak periods, almost twice that of Alton Towers’ 28,000 maximum capacity.
At least 500 hotel rooms would also be added in the first phase, planning documents show.
‘Unlike anything’ in UK
Due to the size of UDX’s plans, the UK government will decide on planning permission directly, rather that local authorities.
More than 7,000 car parking spaces will be introduced to the site, which will be across multiple storeys.
A second, ‘Full Buildout’ phase will later be completed by 2051, UDX revealed.
At that point, the number of on-site staff could increase to 10,000.
“The theme parks and resorts UDX creates and operates globally are very different to a typical amusement park and are unlike anything that currently exists in the UK,” the company added.
Although a ride of up to 377 feet – or 115 metres – above ground could be built, UDX said that the precise size is not yet specified.
The UK government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will decide on the application by 31 August this year.
The plans are widely expected to be accepted by the government, which has been keen to encourage major investment since it came to power last year.
European competition
The highest ride in Europe is currently the Red Force rollercoaster at PortAventura World in Spain, which stands at 367 feet.
“The reason for proposing structures up to this maximum height is to allow the proposed theme park to compete with other attractions in Europe,” planning documents said.
UDX continued: “Although the Universal Orlando Resort does not currently have attractions up to this height, taller attractions are more common in Europe, where rides need to be taller to create the experience, as space is more constrained.
“Building attractions that are higher, rather than over greater areas, also makes the best use of land which is in line with planning policy.”