new exhibits in British zoos

Dudley redevelopment
26-02-2008

I'll believe it when it happens! Over the past few decades the redevelopment of Dudley Zoo has been talked about and talked about and talked about- ad infinitum. Plans to redevelop/modernise just the Ape House go back as far as the 1980's but absolutely has nothing happened except for a couple of demolished walls in the outside area.

I appreciate that the new 'masterplan' encompassing most of the zoo was drawn up much more recently, and I really thought this time something would happen. I'm still waiting....

26-02-2008

Any news about the timeframe on Marwell's proposed Gorilla exhibit would be welcome.[/quote]

Hi

My understanding is that the Gorilla exhibit is planned within the next 3 years. I think that it will be the next major development after the new Restuarant has been completed - assuming the cash is available

27-02-2008

Lets hope so. I'm sure Marwell would build a decent innovative enclosure and I'd look forward to seeing Gorillas kept there. It seems it could well be a male -only group, at least in the first instance.

28-02-2008

I have found a useful method to get more details on new enclosures/ masterplans.

You need to find the local planning district website and then the plans submitted for that particular zoo. Many of the plans have associated documents that include drawings and written statements.

For example the plans for Marwell can be seen under - PublicAccess v7.4 @ Winchester City Council: Property Related Information

Under the documents for the new restuarant is the 10 year plan document - it is huge - but you can download it on a fast PC. To view the documents you may need to press the ctrl button before and while pressing view until the pdf file starts downloading.

I have already put in links for Cromer Zoo and Twycross under the relevant threads

28-02-2008

SWA, can you direct me to Chester's public access?

28-02-2008

I found the restaurant page but I can't find the 10 year plan

28-02-2008

Ok - select the Restuarant application and then you will see the application details. Select the Associated Documents tab, then press on 'view associated documents'. It will bring up a list of documents.

The '10 year plan' maps and details are in the document labelled Design Statement. Highlight this line and press view. If nothing happens it is because your PC blocks pop-ups. To over ride this hold down ctrl key when you press view and keep it down for about 30 secs. The file is 96MB!!

Let me know if you have any problems

28-02-2008

I found them under Chester City Council Planning Applications. You need to agree to certain terms and conditions:

Planning Applications online

Click on Occasional User and then enter zoo in the search box and it will bring them up.

Please beware of the Copyright terms and conditions

01-03-2008

Here is a list of the Chester applications. The Secret World of the Okapi and the cheetah enclosure are not listed for some reason.


2001
5 Oct not relevant to Chester Zoo

2003
1 May Cedar House extension
6 May new greenouses
7 May macaw avaries
23 May road signage (rejected)
24 Jun road signage (rejected)
3 Sep animal supplies division barns and maintenance yard
22 Oct electrical sub-station
30 Oct spectacled bear enclosure and house
23 Dec 2 refuse and waste compactors

2004
9 Jan offshow Philippine spotted deer enclosure and house
15 Jan access road to proposed bear enclosure
12 Mar elephant house
18 May bird rearing pens
21 Jun rare parrot breeding centre
28 Jul camel shelter
6 Aug car park lighting Cedar House
16 Sep Realm of the Red Ape
21 Sep Tsavo cafeteria
28 Sep extension to Ark Shop stores
21 Oct offshow black rhino enclosures and house

2005
23 May Tsavo cafetreia
27 May alterations to doors in Oakfield Restaurant
21 Jun tiger viewing canopy
22 Jul offshow okapi stable
4 Oct not relevant to Chester Zoo
5 Oct offshow small mammal house

2006
9 May animal hospital and quarantine unit
18 Jul agricultural building (withdrawn by zoo)
20 Sep amphibian breeding centre
26 Sep redevelopment of main entrance area
16 Oct dry store canopy animal supplies division
13 Nov Asian plains
16 Nov viewing and picnic area (withdrawn by zoo)

2007
24 Apr walkthrough lemur enclosure and bridge
6 Aug bridge and walkway (withdrawn by zoo)
19 Sep frost fair
27 Sep bridge and walkway
5 Oct temporary extension Upton Park and Ride
12 Dec aquatic breeding centre
21 Dec Cedar House loft conversion for office use

2008
11 Jan walkthrough butterfly house
29 Feb barns for Asian plains and zebras

01-03-2008

Rob does the 29th Feb 2008 entry mean that the barn will be updated or will there be a new one?

Good to hear about the zebras new one, as i was not impressed by that when i had the chance to go inside...

01-03-2008

Whatever happened to that propsed lemur walk through??

Has it been delayed for a few years or is it not happening at all

01-03-2008

From the plans for the lemur island and the current bridge work, it seems like there is a possibility for the bridge to be expanded onto the lemur island at a later date...

And Rob, I believe there is no mention of the Okapi house because it didn't require any exterior construction, I believe. It was more of a renovation than a build. (The extension of off-show quarters is on the list though)

02-03-2008

It is just add-ons to the existing buildings.

02-03-2008

Last i heard it had been dropped for the fore seeable future.

09-03-2008

Going back to the planning permissions thing, can somebody find me the page for London Zoo's applications?

I'm having trouble with my search engines so it's nearly impossible for me to find any relevant sites.