Chester Zoo has been given the go-ahead to build safari lodges overlooking giraffes on an African-style savannah.
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning department has rubber-stamped the zoo’s Grasslands project, which includes 51 lodges, a two-storey reception building with a bar and restaurant, an orientation lodge, and a lake.
Some of the lodges will overlook the lake, and others will overlook the savannah-style habitat for giraffes, Cheshire Live reports.
Chester Zoo’s original proposal for the Grasslands development was approved in 2019. However, the project was paused due to the pandemic. Revised plans were submitted in 2022 for 63 lodges but these were reduced to 51 last year.
An officer report said: “The proposal would include the provision of a welcome building located to the north end of the site with the lodges sited to the south and around central lakes.
“The lodges would comprise of four types of accommodation which vary in scale and form. That being said, they would be constructed from similar materials including cedar shingles, timber louvres and timber framed glazing and all benefit from veranda features. Some of the units would cantilever over the lakes.”
The development is on green belt land, which can only be built on if special circumstances are demonstrated. The report said those requirements had been met:
Grasslands project gets go-ahead
“Other considerations to be taken into account such as the contribution the zoo makes to the local economy and the benefits it provides to education and global conservation initiatives are noted.
“Taken together it is considered that these considerations outweigh the harm to the green belt and amount to very special circumstances.”
It added: “On balance, subject to the conditions set out below and taking into account the provisions of the development plan and all other material planning considerations, it is recommended that planning permission be granted.”
Images courtesy of Cheshire West and Chester Council
