300 jobs to be created as wildlife park’s £50m expansion gets green light

Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s £50m expansion, which is set to create 300 jobs, has been given the green light by planners.

The scheme will see 150 acres transformed into an extension, boosting its position as a world class tourist destination.

“We are really pleased to hear the outline planning for the expansion has been granted. This is great because it’s going to create plenty more jobs for the local area. Come summer 2019, with the new expansion, we will employ a further 300 members of staff,” said CEO John Minion.

“We are very excited about this next stage of our life and this is a game changer for Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster and the surrounding area. It will also be a great asset and we look forward to working with the local community.”

The plans, approved by Doncaster Council today, will allow the development of new reserves and the introduction of new species to continue the park’s conservation and welfare work.

There will be a range of supporting visitor facilities created such as restaurants, shopping and a destination hotel, as well as a visitor hub that will be designed at the new entrance at Hurst Lane.

The park will convert adjacent land to its current site for the expansion so it can increase its collection of over 400 animals from more than 80 species, many of them endangered.

“All of this will attract a wider audience from around the country and also be a wonderful resource for local people, who will be able to access the facilities before the entrance to the Wildlife Park reserves,” added Minion.

The park, which was founded 80 years ago, currently employs 300 people and has contributed approximately £12.2m to date to the local economy with visitor numbers rising steadily to a record 761,000 last year.