Chester Zoo set to become biggest in Europe (From Wirral Globe)

Chester Zoo set to become biggest in Europe

3:14pm Tuesday 27th January 2009

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CHESTER Zoo has unveiled an ambitious £225 million plan that will see it transformed into the largest conservation, animal and leisure attraction of its kind in Europe.

The project – given the working title Natural Vision – will involve a £90 million first phase which will include the only domed ecosystem in the UK.

Called ‘Heart of Africa’, the bio-dome will be an African rainforest-themed sanctuary for a band of Gorillas, a large troop of chimpanzees, okapi - rare giraffe-like creatures, and a wide variety of tropical birds, amphibians, reptiles, fishes and invertebrates, moving freely among lush vegetation.

The first phase – planning permission for which will be sought later this year – will also include a 90-bed hotel, a Conservation College, a key element of which is the ‘Futures’ education centre, and a revamped main entrance linking to a marina development on zoo land beside the Shropshire Union Canal.

The rest of the Natural Vision project will be completed by 2018, thus creating one of the largest wildlife attractions in the world and providing a major boost to the Northwest economy.

This will showcase and financially support the zoo’s national and international conservation work, which already spans 50 countries.

Chester Zoo – which celebrates its 75th anniversary in May – already welcomes 1.3 million visitors a year, more than any other zoo in the UK.

It is expected that number will increase to 1.6 million on completion of the first phase and two million visitors per year on completion of the full project.

Building on an already large regional economic impact, hundreds of jobs will be created both during the construction of the project and on completion.

Prof Gordon McGregor Reid, director general of Chester Zoo, said: “Natural Vision will offer a fun, family-friendly, adventurous, yet educational window on the world of conservation.

“Chester Zoo already actively supports and runs conservation, science and veterinary projects in all corners of the globe but the increased visitor footfall from this new project will dramatically increase what we are able to do and fund out in the field.

“New and exciting animal species will be introduced.

“This project is unlike anything that has been in the UK and will offer a spectacular visitor experience and the highest standards of animal welfare.

“Our intention now is to move forward to the planning stage and we will be working closely with Government agencies and our neighbouring communities during this process.”

The zoo currently occupies 50 hectares of land but owns a further 200. The completed Natural Vision project will cover 80 hectares including new access roads and parking.

Prof Reid added that the ultimate aim was to transform Chester Zoo into the wildlife attraction of choice in the UK and Europe.

“As well as the overall impact on conservation worldwide, here in the North West, there will be a major increase in job creation and security and a positive pact on the regional economy.

"Our visitors will be immersed in the world of wildlife where we will engage, inform educate and amaze them in a truly thrilling and unique environment,” he said.

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