Chester Zoo Natural Vision Plans

Maguari said:
I'd be surprised if Chester have thought of particular animals as yet; but crocs are long-lived so who knows!

The Slender-snouteds are always one of my favourites at Colchester.
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I can think up how to make pairings.

There are way more than inscribed on ISIS in Europe.
 
Where is that mentioned?

EDIT: Found it! Approved, as well. Wonder how close they came to building that in '86?
 
A lot to digest here. So far, I'm most surprised by the apparently fairly significant reduction in size of the elephant paddock to accommodate the new entrance and turnstile arrangement (ref. Drawing-7878291).

It looks like visitors purchase tickets and that the area of the shop and current visitor information kiosk (to be demolished) are open to the car park, then they enter the zoo proper via a set of turnstiles outside the Tsavo Restaurant. A separate set of turnstiles grants access to the elephant house, which brings about its own set of questions but might be to allow limited winter access for events such as the Frost Fair.
 
SMR said:
A lot to digest here. So far, I'm most surprised by the apparently fairly significant reduction in size of the elephant paddock to accommodate the new entrance and turnstile arrangement (ref. Drawing-7878291).

It looks like visitors purchase tickets and that the area of the shop and current visitor information kiosk (to be demolished) are open to the car park, then they enter the zoo proper via a set of turnstiles outside the Tsavo Restaurant. A separate set of turnstiles grants access to the elephant house, which brings about its own set of questions but might be to allow limited winter access for events such as the Frost Fair.
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In the text of one of the larger documents it says the idea is to eventually use the Asian Plains paddock for the elephants as well. That said, I'd still be surprised if they actually reduced the elephant paddock size by the amount shown, even in the short term.
 
Maguari said:
In the text of one of the larger documents it says the idea is to eventually use the Asian Plains paddock for the elephants as well. That said, I'd still be surprised if they actually reduced the elephant paddock size by the amount shown, even in the short term.
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Me too, but that's what the documents indicate. Do you recall in which document you found that text?

The Master Plan drawing (ref. Drawing-7874728) also mirrors the entrance drawing and shows a reduced elephant paddock. They have a "primary pedestrian movement corridor" in the same location it is now, with the original bridge over the bridal way, and that splits the current elephant paddock and Asian Plains paddock in two.
 
Maguari said:
In the text of one of the larger documents it says the idea is to eventually use the Asian Plains paddock for the elephants as well. That said, I'd still be surprised if they actually reduced the elephant paddock size by the amount shown, even in the short term.
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I always wondered how they would actually do this? Does it give more information otherthan using that paddock for Elephants as well? (Sorry not read it yet, am waiting until a can get a printed copy as it much easier to read and highlight interesting points)

Also could the golf course still go ahead? This would be a great side earner for the zoo (if done completely seperate from the zoo).
 
Weirdly, the Elephant details are in the Economic Impact Statement, which breaks down the Natural Vision phases as :

Phase I: The Heart of Africa dome and new entrance area (which is what is included in the current application)

Phase II: The Savanna Hotel and 'Experience Cheshire' (word order seems to have changed from 'Cheshire Experience'!)

As to the later phases:

Natural Vision Phase I Economic Impact Statement said:
• Phase 3: Wild African Savanna. The development of
improved mixed-herd paddocks focused on a new Savanna
Trail building, with a network of elevated walkways which
will connect into and ultimately form part of a new Linear
Park loop route around the Zoo.

• Phase 4: Conservation College. A new-build facility,
titled ‘The Futures Centre’, will be constructed adjacent
to the main entrance to create a centre of excellence
for Chester Zoo’s conservation education and a window
into its extensive international conservation programme.
The Futures Centre is aimed at the broadest range of
audiences, including primary, secondary, further and
higher education, scientifi c research, adult and community
learning, as well as an educational facility for Zoo visitors.

• Phase 5: Forming the transition/ linking zone between the
Heart of Africa and the existing Islands and Water zone,
this phase will comprise the reorganisation of paddocks
to accommodate new exhibits within the Mysteries of the
Rainforest Character Zone.

• Phase 6: A key aspiration of the Zoo is to improve the
current elephant paddock conditions and provide a larger
area for the elephants to roam. As such, this phase will see
the demolition and reconstruction of the Bridleway bridge
enabling elephants to pass underneath into paddocks
south of the bridge. During this phase, the entrance barriers
to the Zoo will be relocated, completing the entrance plaza.

• Phase 7: The penultimate phase of development will
include the redevelopment of the Islands and Water zone
to include a new Sea Lion house and improvements to the
associated waterbodies and landscape.

• Phase 8: The fi nal phase of the framework will see the
construction of facilities to support the Zoological Gardens
and may include an additional hotel and or garden centre
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File is here: http://www.ukplanning.com/chester/d...LUME6&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1
 
Interesting that they included a screen shot which shows the guy who was looking at the front canopy design accessing his Yahoo account! :p (Drawing 7878327)

I wish I could work for them, seems a really cosy job.
 
Maguari, thanks for that.

So what we appear to be looking at here are plans of each element as complete, rather than individual phases of each element. So the turnstiles and entrance plaza - which reduces the size of the elephant paddock to the west - for example, will only move after a new bridge is built in phase 6, the drawings for which haven't yet been submitted.

Hopefully at some point the zoo will create individual plans of each phase and a more detailed time line.

As an aside, I wonder why they don't expand the elephants to the north, rather than going to the trouble of a new bridge?
 
SMR said:
Where are you getting your printed copies from Taun? I'd rather read physical copies too.

It already did! ;)
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I will be printing them myself, but I need to download all the information sort through and select any drawings I want printing off (Which i shall do from work as I can then print them A1). Therefore its going to take a few days to organise and print off.
 
I am well pleased (as northerns would say). This is a great Day for the future of Chester (and the Zoo).

Us will be following developments closely and with lots of interest. :D
 
So just thinking, when/if all the plans are completed, are species such as the tigers, lions and spectacled bears be moving enclosurs as well, as they dont seem to fit into the areas they are currently in?
 
They say they are increasing the number of species but in the phase plans and on the map, alot of species will not fit into the zoned areas and on the map there seems to be mare room for fewer species.
 
The impression I get is that a lot of the zoo won't be changed that much. Certainly the masterplan we've seen previously still has the Asian Steppe area and seems to still have Monkey Islands. The canal layout seems unaffected, and Spirit of the Jaguar and Realm of the Red Ape are still there. Plus the plans for the later phases are still pretty vague!
 
lechweoryx said:
They say they are increasing the number of species but in the phase plans and on the map, alot of species will not fit into the zoned areas and on the map there seems to be mare room for fewer species.
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Am sure alot of these species will be birds and reptiles, there increasing the number of species without increasing the food bill by loads.

Think about it HoA, will not just be filled with Mammals There is lots of room for "side exhibits" (Sorry to offend anyone but mammals are the main draw for any general zoo) were there can be lots of new interesting species in every corner.
 
Exact location for HoA 'Biodome'?

Am I right in assuming from these plans that the 'Heart of Africa' biodome will be situated somewhere in the area where the Sand Lizards/ buffy headed(?) Capuchins now live? Not being a regular(unfortunately)I can't remember what other buildings/enclosures are currently in this area?

Re 'Chimpanzees'- anyone know the current thinking about this i.e. will it be the existing Chimps- or Bonobos as has been talked about previously?
 
The Heart of Africa dome will be outside the current zoo - across the canal from the Tropical Realm. It won't sit on top of any current exhibits; the access will be from near the butterfly house (which is shown on the plans).

As far as I'm aware, the plan is to keep the current group of chimps, possibly slowly heading towards a group of pure verus.

EDIT: on this map, the dome will be where the otter photo is at the bottom left: http://www.zoochat.com/42/current-map-chester-06-12-09-a-119779/ It will run more-or-less the complete length of the Eastern half of the zoo, from Flag Lane to Caughall Rd. It's a massive expansion in terms of area.
 
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