Chester Zoo to push ahead with £30m Islands attraction

CHESTER Zoo has won planning permission for its £30m Islands conservation project.

The zoo describes it as “a conservation expedition bringing the islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi to the heart of Cheshire”.

The development will showcase conservation work and bring together a range of animals such as the Indonesian rhinoceros hornbill, lorikeet, Sumatran orangutan, saltwater Sulawesi macaque and the Visayan warty pig.

It will be built along a 1.5km jungle path on a 540,000 sq ft unoccupied part of the zoo.

The project has been designed by architects from the Dan Pearlman group in Germany. It is scheduled to open by spring 2015.

The zoo’s director general Dr Mark Pilgrim said: “Islands will see the dawning of a new age for zoos and it will be an unparalleled experience. We will be transporting our visitors thousands of miles away to experience the splendour of the animals, plants and cultural aspects of far-flung places.

“It will be the first time a UK zoo has attempted anything on this scale and will confirm Chester Zoo’s position as a world leader.”

Manchester-based planning consultancy Barton Willmore worked on the project.

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