![\"**](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_314964416-54de.jpg\")
\n\t\tRitchie Wood, 55, lives in one of 12 homes due to be demolished (Picture: SWNS)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tRitchie Wood, 55, lives in one of 12 homes due to be demolished (Picture: SWNS)<\/p>\n
A lone tenant is the last man standing in a street due to be demolished to make way for one of Europe\u2019s biggest theme parks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ritchie Wood, 55, is waiting until the last moment to leave Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire<\/a>, as 12 homes are due to be razed to make way for the \u00a35bn Universal United Kingdom Resort.<\/p>\n Six homes have already been vacated. Another five are understood to have sold their homes to Universal under NDAs, with demolition slated for\u00a0Christmas, according to another resident.<\/p>\n While the park has been lauded by the government as providing \u2018opportunity and long\u2011term prosperity for Britain\u2019, Ritchie is refusing to leave his three-bedroom cottage, which he has rented for 11 years.<\/p>\n Having been served an eviction notice by his landlord earlier this year, Ritchie took his case to court before being served with a possession notice earlier this month.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n \t\t Now Ritchie, who cares for his elderly parents who live just six miles away, says he is waiting for the bailiffs following struggles to find a new home.<\/p>\n Ritchie, who believes his five remaining neighbours are due to sell up and move, said: \u2018I\u2019ve lived here for 11 years \u2013 this is my home and I have a life here.<\/p>\n \u2018My 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\u2019s been really hard to watch almost everyone move out of this street. It\u2019s heartbreaking.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s like living on borrowed time at the moment. Out of 70 million people in the country, I\u2019m the only person facing homelessness<\/a> out of this. I\u2019m not being taken seriously, and no one will speak to me.\u2019<\/p>\n He added: \u2018I feel like an alien<\/a>, intruding or trespassing.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Ritchie, who is facing homelessness, was served a Section 21 eviction notice on April 28 \u2013 just days before the Renters\u2019 Rights Act 2025 came into force.<\/p>\n He was given the deadline of July 1, but Ritchie, who said Universal had been \u2018bullying\u2019 his neighbours to sell up their homes and leave, sought legal advice.<\/p>\n Ritchie, who used to work<\/a> in construction but had to leave due to ill health<\/a>, also spoke to his council, who he says advised him to stay put so he wasn\u2019t classed as voluntarily homeless.<\/p>\n He attended court earlier this month in a bid to appeal the notice \u2013 but a possession order was put in place on September 19.<\/p>\n 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\u2019 Rights Act coming into force.<\/p>\n Demolition began this month as part of work to construct the new 476-acre \u00a350bn Universal theme park.<\/p>\n Universal Destinations and Experiences operates theme parks and resorts around the world based on the works of the Entertainment conglomerate.<\/p>\n They are best known for successful film franchises, including Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park, and Despicable Me.<\/p>\n The park could be home to Europe\u2019s tallest rides reaching 377ft (115m), slated for completion in 2031.<\/p>\n The project will include several themed lands, a 500-room hotel, and retail, dining and entertainment, with the creation of 20,000 jobs.<\/p>\n Plans include razing 12 homes to make way for the park and new dual carriageway \u2013 with Ritchie\u2019s current home in the middle. <\/p>\n Universal Studios UK were contacted for comment.<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"**](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_314859928-d522.jpg\")
\n\t\tRitchie has lived on the street for 11 years (Picture: SWNS)<\/p>\n![\"**](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_314964639-1a10.jpg\")
\n\t\tRitchie is now facing homelessness after being served with an eviction notice (Picture: SWNS)<\/p>\n
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