The last man standing in village street set to be demolished to make way for the UK's new Universal theme park

A lone resident is the last man standing on a village street as he refuses to move from his home to make way for one of Europe's biggest theme parks.

Ritchie Wood, 55, is waiting until the 11th hour to leave his home to make way for the UK's new Universal theme park, which is set to open in 2031 in Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford.

All 12 homes on Manor Road in the village are due to be knocked down for the 480-acre park, with Mr Wood claiming that Universal has been 'bullying' his neighbours to sell up their homes and leave.

Six homes have already been vacated, while another five are understood to have sold their homes to Universal under NDAs – with demolition slated for Christmas according to an anonymous resident.

While the 480-acre park has been lauded by the government as providing 'opportunity and long‑term prosperity for Britain', Mr Wood is defiantly refusing to leave his three-bedroom cottage, which he has rented for 11 years.

Having been served an eviction notice by his landlord earlier this year, Mr Wood took his case to court before being served with a possession notice earlier this month.

He is now waiting for the bailiffs following struggles to find a new home. 

'It’s been really hard to watch almost everyone move out of this street,' Mr Wood said. 

Ritchie Wood, 55, is waiting until the 11th hour to leave his home to make way for the £5billion Universal theme park, which is set to open in 2031 in Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford

All 12 homes on Manor Road in the village are due to be knocked down for the 480-acre park (circled: Mr Woods's property)

Six homes have already been vacated, while another five are understood to have sold their homes to Universal under NDAs

'It’s heartbreaking. Out of 70 million people in the country, I'm the only person facing homelessness out of this.

'I'm not being taken seriously and no one will speak to me.

'If you drive down Manor Road now, you would think it's private land owned by Universal Studios with the amount of traffic.

'I get looks from people driving down there, thinking "who's that?" 

'I feel like an alien, intruding or trespassing.'

He added that he cares for his elderly parents who live just six miles away.

'I've lived here for 11 years, this is my home and I have a life here,' Mr Wood said.

'My parents are in their 80s and they live five minutes down the road. I want to stay close to them but I could end up anywhere.'

Mr Wood, who is facing homelessness, was served a Section 21 eviction notice on April 28 – just days before the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force.

He was given the deadline of July 1, but Mr Wood, who said Universal had been 'bullying' his neighbours to sell up their homes and leave, sought legal advice.

Mr Wood, who used to work in construction but had to leave due to ill health, also spoke to his council, who he says advised him to stay put so he wasn't classed as voluntarily homeless.  

He attended court earlier this month in a bid to appeal the notice – but a possession order was put in place on September 19.

Now Mr Wood says he was advised to sit tight until the bailiffs turn up to change the locks – as his pleas to the council for rehoming hit a dead end.

He says his landlord has sold the property to Universal subject to his removal as a tenant, which he believes is to prevent the new Renters' Rights Act coming into force.

While the 480-acre park has been lauded by the government as providing 'opportunity and long‑term prosperity for Britain', Mr Wood is is defiantly refusing to leave his three-bedroom cottage, which he has rented for 11 years

The first steps towards construction work started this summer, and Project Universal took a drone over Broadmead Farm in August, where the new Bedfordshire resort is due to be built

The park could be home to Europe's tallest rides reaching 377ft (115m), slated for completion in 2031

Demolition began this month as part of work to construct the new 480-acre £50bn Universal theme park

Universal want to build the dual carriageway next to their homes which will be sandwiched between the theme park and a construction village which is currently being built

One property that has already been purchased by Universal Studios and boarded up

Part of Manor Road has been closed since July as part of 'site stabilisation and enabling works'. Pictured: A boarded up property on Manor Road

Mr Wood, who lives in a historic cottage which used to house brickworkers, said: 'The Section 21 notice I was given was granted April 28th, just before new Renter's Rights came in.

'I sought legal advice to Legal Aid and I was told to sit tight until a court possession order.

'Last week, I went to Bedford Crown Court and the possession order was granted on the 19th of September.

'I've been advised to wait until a bailiff warrant is approved by the court and then I get two weeks notice before they change the locks.

'And all this time, the council are telling me I'm at the bottom of the list for housing. It's not like I'm being paid to move by Universal.

'From a legal point of view, Universal haven't done anything wrong because they'll make sure everything is done to the letter.

'But from a moral perspective, their belligerence is unreal. They think we don't matter.'

Demolition began this month as part of work to construct the new 480-acre £50billion Universal theme park.

Universal Destinations and Experiences operates theme parks and resorts around the world based on the works of the entertainment conglomerate.

They are best known for successful film franchises including Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park and Despicable Me.

The park could be home to Europe's tallest rides reaching 377ft (115m) and will include several themed lands, a 500-room hotel, and retail, dining and entertainment with the creation of 20,000 jobs. 

It is expected to attract 8.5 million guests in its first year, which would make it the UK's most-visited theme park.

Universal Studios released detailed planning documents for its highly anticipated UK theme park - revealing ambitions to feature the tallest rollercoaster in Europe

The park itself will be divided into four main zones, including the Core Zone, the West Gateway Zone, the East Gateway Zone and the Lake Zone 

Early signs of construction were seen at the future site of Universal Studios in June 

The first steps towards construction work started this summer, and Project Universal took a drone over Broadmead Farm in August, where the new Bedfordshire resort is due to be built 

Last year, residents on Manor Road spoke of how they had been approached by representatives with formal offers for their homes or otherwise asking if they'd be willing to sell.

But some refused to budge from their much-loved houses, which they said they bought for village life and the countryside.

Mr Wood has also claimed he's sent around 70 emails to Universal pleading for talks – and even sent two letters by tracked delivery to their HQ in Orlando.

He said: 'In April last year, I was told the houses weren't part of the development and they were staying.

'But then different neighbours were contacted to say the houses were part of it and there was the view to demolish.

'I emailed Universal using various addresses I found online or been told to contact but never heard back.

'After pushing last summer, the contractor dealing with the houses said they would set up a meeting between me and Universal Studios as they acknowledged I'd lived there ten years.

'But at Christmas, I was told they were only going to deal with the landlord, as Universal see it as the same as someone walking off the street and buying the property outright.

'I've emailed them between 50 to 70 times, and I've never even had an acknowledgement of receipt.

'As a last resort, I sent two letters by recorded delivery to their headquarters in Orlando with full tracking for £32.

'They were signed for but, again, no response.'

The developers had sought a 'Special Development Order' which could see them granted powers to compulsory purchase.

Permission was granted in December 2025, which allowed the park to submit directly to the government and bypass local planning.

Part of Manor Road has been closed since July as part of 'site stabilisation and enabling works'.

In a letter sent to residents in September regarding the roadworks, Universal said they remained 'committed to being a good neighbour'.

But Mr Wood said he felt ignored.

He added: 'I think they've [my neighbours] accepted the inevitable that the houses will be demolished. It's sad.

'There's fields all around us and lakes round the back.

'I get lots of water voles in my garden now because animals are being forced out the land.

'We had a large grass snake in the road - all these animals have now got nowhere to go.'