I've heard that there are plans for what the zoo is going to look like in 2020 floating around. Could someone confirm this or maybe even (if they have seen the plans) say what the changes will be. Thanks!!! P.S I'm a noob, just in case my typings wierd.
Yes, I've seen the plans. I'm not allowed to show you them yet, as they are still quite secret. Lumpy326, what would you like to know about? Birds, mammals, transport sytems? There is a lot of new stuff!!!
I'd like to know about any new species/ any new significant enclosures being built. P.S have you seen the realm of the red ape, if so, what is it like?
Have a look at the pictures and the realm of the red ape thread for more info on that exhibit. Ask questions about it there too. Some new exhibits are a new aquarium, a biodome for south east Asian wildlife, barbary lions, a cable car system, Hartmann's mountain zebra, Geladas.... the list goes on..... None has been officially confirmed. Remeber that!!!
Just remember plans and actual building work are seldom the same. I have Chester Zoo's masterplan for 1988, most never even got started e.g. owl aviaries on the islands, a leopard enclosure where Monkeys in Miniature now stands and an area to the north of the existing elephant house utilised as an extension to the elephant paddock. The 1988 Masterplan even showed a second bridge over the bridleway which divides the zoo. This was to have connected the Twilight Zone with the kangaroo enclosure. However a southern crossing of the bridlepath somewhere in this area has been planned since 1969. I'm not holding my breath. The latest development I am aware of is to turn the cattle house into a second okapi house. This should have started in April this year. The building has just been refurbished for the warty pigs so I guess this plan has been put back or scrapped. I suppose Chester (or any other collection) is constantly planning changes and then re-prioritising them.
I think that chester should get a pair of Yellow backed Duikers, to house in the new Cattle house. They should also have free flying turacos, Starlings other african birds ( Jacanas, Open billed storks etc.) and should try to include other animals like Elephant shrews, Rhinoceros vipers and Royal Antelope in small glass exhibits. They could do a really nice job if they planned it well. As for the Warty pigs, they could be moved in with the spotted deer couldn't they? Or maybe go where the Pere david's deer are now.....The enclosures would have to be renevated of Course.
The plans are apparently called "Chester Superzoo". I believe they are looking to add a safari park type extension to the zoo, with trains/buses as the mode or transportation. I work in the construction industry (Well civil engineering more designing than building) and cannot wait to see if this project goes ahead. Am even considering joining the firm that manage to win the tender just to work on this project. They are keeping it quite under wraps, i search for information on this but only found small bits of information most of which i currently knew.
There is very little information available concerning Chester Zoo's future plans at the moment. I expect we shall know more when the zoo has some idea of what it is going to do. The NEZS 2006 Annual Report mentions this:- Work continues on our long-term project to transform Chester Zoo into a world-class visitor attraction. During 2007 we will be working closely with the North West Development Agency to develop the project, identify consultants and funding partners. This is an enormous undertaking for the Society, but one that will enable us to improve our ability to take forward the mission of conserving biodiversity worldwide and create economic regeneration for the North West. This is from the Chester Chronicle when the news first broke Chester Chronicle Oct 28 2005 £100m vision for Super Zoo Exclusive By Rob Devey, Chester Chronicle A VISION to turn Chester Zoo into a world-class £100m 'super zoo' has been unveiled. The plan could see the 110-acre attraction trebled in size, creating scores of jobs and bringing thousands more visitors to the city. Themed areas and accommodation could be developed and a new main entrance built on the A41. The zoo may also develop a global centre for conservation sustainability, including a 'frozen zoo' - a gene bank accessed for artificial insemination to help preserve endangered species. Outlining the plans to Upton Parish Council, zoo director Professor Gordon McGregor Reid said there was a 'unique opportunity to create a world-class visitor attraction', and create something 'in a league of its own'. He said the zoo owned surrounding land 'three or four times' the size of the current site which could be developed, and remains interested in acquiring a redundant Ministry of Defence site. 'It would be a low-profile naturalistic development, nothing that would jar with the local environment,' said Prof McGregor Reid. 'We are not talking huge roller-coasters but we do need more space for welfare reasons and to display our animals properly. 'This may be Green Belt land but there is not much difference between European bisons and a herd of cattle.' Themed areas called Forest, Grass and Water could be created, with each taking a day to visit. 'People spend about five hours here at the moment, but it could be three times that if we manage to redevelop the zoo,' said Prof McGregor Reid. 'The site could be barely recognisable in terms of the existing zoo.' Prof McGregor Reid outlined hopes of a more interactive experience. 'For instance, we could let people experience nature in the raw by creating waterfalls and torrents, and letting them look at aquatic creatures from a different perspective,' he said. 'We want to do very big-scale, dramatic exhibits. Things would be a bit more spectacular, the 'wow' is a big part of it.' Local children could sponsor creatures such as whales - which are not kept at the zoo - but track their movements at the site or from school using new technology. Prof McGregor Reid stressed the plans were still at an embryonic ideas stage and were dependent on finding up to £100m in external resources and public funding. But the zoo has already applied to the Northwest Development Agency seeking support for its plans. Developments will be phased in gradually during the next 10 years and it is hoped they will boost the zoo's standing as the UK's sixth most popular leisure attraction. It currently attracts 1.1 million visitors a year - more than Westminster Abbey - but Prof McGregor Reid said the aim was to increase that to up to 1.7 million. He added that consultation, a vigorous traffic plan and a sensitive developments would limit the impact on locals. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I understand the zoo has now acquired the ex-MOD site. I eagerly await more news on this project.
Not much more info on the Superzoo, but I have come across this news item on the Locum Consulting website which shows that the project is still moving forward: "Locum has worked, since 2002, on proposals for the development of Chester Zoo, the most popular paid visitor attraction in the North-West of England. Initially we were commissioned as part of a multi-disciplinary team to explore the concept for a ‘Regional BioDiversity Centre’ to be located at the Zoo, but our work on this showed that what was really needed was a new development strategy for the Zoo as a whole. A Locum-led team worked with the Zoo in 2003 and 2004 to produce the SuperZoo concept – a long-term project to develop the Zoo’s 150-hectare site into a world-class wildlife attraction with themed zones and rides, capable of attracting visitors from a much wider area than at present. Further work by Locum in 2006 examined the commercial viability of the SuperZoo and was instrumental in securing support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency for the next stages of work. In May 2007 the North of England Zoological Society, which owns and operates Chester Zoo, appointed Locum as Business Consultant for the SuperZoo project. The appointment covers the Concept and Business Plan Development and Planning Consent stages of the project and runs to the end of 2008. The project – total cost £370m – will then be implemented in four stages between 2009 and 2020. The Locum team includes The Russell Partnership (catering consultants), Development Partners (fundraising) and BDS Sponsorship (commercialisation and sponsorship)." "Locum's market, financial and branding expertise has helped us prepare a 20 year development strategy that will transform the visitor experience on offer at the Zoo." Gordon Reid, Director, Chester Zoo Locum Consulting
Chester zoo i believe have recently award tenders for the infrastructure work of this proposal. I cant remeber the consultant it was awarded too but i will try and find out today. I work in the industry so I may just try and get a job at this other consultant just to work on this scheme would be fantastic.
I think it is WS Atkins. I have found a job advert on an agency website here: Minerva Appointments Limited - Principal Infrastructure Engineer - Altrincham - Leeds based Construction Recruitment Specialists The company lists the Superzoo as one of its current or forthcoming projects (though where on earth they get the £3bn price tag from I've no idea!). One of their other projects is the A1(M) Dishforth to Barton widening, and I know for a fact that Atkins are doing that. Plus they have an office in Altrincham and fit the description of a 'truly international organisation'. So if you fit the bill of Principal Infrastructure Engineer then go for it! I am a structural engineer so although I would love to be involved with the Superzoo project in some way, this is not the role for me!
I saw the advert on ICE recuit but couldn't place the consultant. Thanks for that, am not quite Principal Engineer level I know fauber maushell put in a tender for it. Just hope that some more plans are released of this project soon.
