Chester Zoo plans huts for giraffe sleepovers
An application has been submitted to build 63 lakeside lodges and a welcome building adjacent to the zoo’s Grasslands zone.
In total, Chester Zoo is proposing 36,550 sq ft of new space.
Under the proposals, there would be 54 lodges of varying styles constructed immediately, with nine more to be built as a part of a future phase. The lodges will be part of the main zoo, located off Caughall Road in Upton.
Inside the welcome building would be a 120-cover restaurant, bar facilities, staff areas and offices.
A giraffe feeding station would be included to allow visitors to get close to the animals on the fully accessible site.
The lodges would let visitors be in close proximity to giraffes. Credit: via planning documents
This progresses the zoo’s Grasslands masterplan after outline permission was granted in 2019. The pandemic caused that project to be paused, giving the zoo time to consider a larger proposal.
Chester Zoo is working with planners Gillespies and design team Buttress Architects and BDP Engineering on the project.
Other members of the project team are transport assessors SK and Cheshire Ecological Services conducting the tree survey.
The application’s reference number is 22/02129/FUL with Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Gillespies is the planning consultant for the project. Credit: via planning documents
