A lone tenant is the last man standing in a street due to be demolished to make way for one of Europe’s biggest theme parks.

Ritchie Wood, 55, is waiting until the last moment to leave Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire, as 12 homes are due to be razed to make way for the £5bn Universal United Kingdom Resort.

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

While the park has been lauded by the government as providing ‘opportunity and long‑term prosperity for Britain’, Ritchie is 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, Ritchie took his case to court before being served with a possession notice earlier this month.

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.

Ritchie, who believes his five remaining neighbours are due to sell up and move, 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.

‘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.’

He added: ‘I feel like an alien, intruding or trespassing.’

Ritchie, 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 Ritchie, who said Universal had been ‘bullying’ his neighbours to sell up their homes and leave, sought legal advice.

Ritchie, 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.

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.

Demolition began this month as part of work to construct the new 476-acre £50bn 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), 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 new dual carriageway – with Ritchie’s current home in the middle.

Universal Studios UK were contacted for comment.

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