Ritchie Wood, 55, is the last tenant standing on Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire, where 12 homes are due to be demolished to make way for the £5bn Universal United Kingdom Resort. Six homes have already been vacated, and another five are understood to have sold their homes to Universal under NDAs, with demolition slated for Christmas, according to another resident.
Refusing to leave
Wood, who has rented his three-bedroom cottage for 11 years, is refusing to leave despite receiving an eviction notice from his landlord earlier this year. He took his case to court and was served with a possession notice earlier this month. He now says he is waiting for bailiffs after struggling to find a new home.
Wood, who cares for his elderly parents who live six miles away, said: “I’ve lived here for 11 years – this is my home and I have a life here. 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. It’s been really hard to watch almost everyone move out of this street. It’s heartbreaking.”
Legal battle and homelessness risk
Wood was served a Section 21 eviction notice on April 28, just days before the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into force, with a deadline of July 1. He sought legal advice and attended court earlier this month to appeal the notice, but a possession order was put in place on September 19. 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.
Wood, who used to work in construction but had to leave due to ill health, said his council advised him to stay put so he wasn’t classed as voluntarily homeless. He added: “It’s like living on borrowed time at the moment. 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. I feel like an alien, intruding or trespassing.”
Theme park plans
Demolition began this month as part of work to construct the new 476-acre £50bn Universal theme park. The park could be home to Europe’s tallest rides reaching 377ft (115m), slated for completion in 2031. The project will include several themed lands, a 500-room hotel, and retail, dining and entertainment, with the creation of 20,000 jobs. Plans include razing 12 homes to make way for the park and a new dual carriageway, with Wood’s current home in the middle. Universal Studios UK were contacted for comment.
