Approval for Proctor & Matthews’ zoo biodome

Proctor & Matthews Architects’ £225 million biodome for Chester Zoo was given the go-ahead this week by Cheshire West & Chester Council.

The architect is designing a biodome larger than Grimshaw’s Eden Project, a new main entrance and transport links as part of the £90 million first phase.

Councillor Stuart Parker said: “I can imagine that the design of the Biodome would blend in and become ’cloud-like’ from a distance, more so than any of the pylons blotting the landscape.”

The second phase will include a hotel, new underwater exhibit buildings, new animal paddocks and gardens. Overall the zoo hopes to attract 2 million visitors a year by 2022 by marketing itself as a resort rather than a day-trip destination.

Andrew Matthews, director at Proctor & Matthews, which also designed the Gorilla Kingdom at London Zoo, said he was working on fundraising with the client after the North West Development Agency (NWDA) pulled its grant earlier this year.

“We have lost the NWDA’s contribution, but the zoo is still committed to the project, though the fundraising period will probably be stretched out a bit,” he said.

The proposals will now be sent to communities secretary Eric Pickles for final approval.

Proctor & Matthews, better known for its work in the housing sector, now has a 10-strong team dedicated to zoo projects and revealed there was “a lot of work” to target internationally.

Matthews said: “We have been shortlisted for a £350 million zoo masterplan in Georgia, along with design teams from Japan, Israel and America.

“The whole role of zoos globally has changed dramatically with breeding programmes and how animals are kept.”

In India, the practice is collaborating with the government to help identify future opportunities for architects.

“The Indian government is asking every zoo to submit a 15 year development programme,” said Matthews. “It’s early days but there will be a lot of work there.”