Chester Zoo’s 51 luxury lodges on track for 2025 finish
Wirral-based modular construction company Starship is leading a multi-million-pound project to provide the zoo with lakeside accommodation that will see guests wake up to views of giraffes.
A total of 51 “safari-style” lodges will be installed, some overlooking a central lake, while others will look out over the giraffe habitat.
An application submitted by Chester Zoo to Cheshire West and Chester Council was approved in May.
Starship began construction in May this year.
Set to open in 2025, each lodge on the almost six-acre site will be able to accommodate up to six people.
Guests will arrive via a two-storey reception building, where amenities such as a restaurant and bar will be the scheme’s focal point.
According to the design and access statement, complied by Gillespies and Buttress, contractor Starship was chosen specifically as Chester Zoo opted to adopt modular technology to reflect its “unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship”.
The statement added: “By prioritising low-carbon construction methods and innovative design solutions, we aim to set new benchmarks for sustainability within the leisure and tourism sector.”
Each lodge will be equipped with an air source heat pump and be partially powered by solar panels set across the lodge’s sedum green roofs.
The site is designated Green Belt, but the council are content that the benefits the project provides to education and global conservation initiatives outweigh the harm to the Green Belt in these “very special” circumstances.
The lodges will be placed following the line of the edge of the lake, staggered to maintain privacy at both the entrance and the balcony. Credit: via planning documents
Part of the attraction will be a chance to feed the giraffes, a platform will be installed to have the form and height to allow visitors to be at eye level with the animals.
Dave Dargan, CEO of Starship, said: “The new savannah-inspired lodges in the new Heart of Africa development will provide a unique opportunity to connect people to nature like never before through close-up experiences, exploring an array of wildlife, and waking up to sunrise at Chester Zoo.
“This is another great project that will showcase the unrivalled bespoke offering that we have to the accommodation market,” he added.
The project will also require significant earthworks and landscaping.
A Welcome Building will comprise a reception area for check-in and check-out, a 120-cover restaurant with additional external covers, and back-of-house areas including offices, kitchen, staff areas, and plant areas. Credit: via planning documents.
Others on the project team are SK, Cheshire Ecological Services, Kennedy Redford, BDP, and ArbTech.
To view the plans, search for reference number 22/02129/FUL on Cheshire West and Chester Council’s website.
its a good idea
By orford
Great idea, let’s hope the experience and wildlife interaction lives up to the billing.
By Cyril
We went to Chester Zoo back in August and thoroughly an enjoyable day, having this accommodation would be a great addition to those who need to travel quite far, however will these accept pets as in a small dog?
By Anonymous
About time there is somewhere to stay
By Anonymous
Why not give that extra space to the giraffes. Sad
By Anonymous
I can’t wait for these to be built I absolutely love Chester zoo, about time had somewhere to stay.
By Anonymous
People on here thinking they’re gonna be affordable – my god there gonna be £1k plus a night easy
By Jerry
What a fabulous idea, I only hope there will be special offers on this so ordinary people can afford to stay
By Jenny B
Can’t wait to visit
By Anonymous
How do the animals, especially the Giraffes feel about 24/7 noise? I would have thought that the evenings are bliss. Everyone has gone home.
By Anonymous
Hope the giraffes fight back
By Anonymous
that would be a dream come true
By julie
These will be ridiculously expensive to stay in, the same as the ones at the west midlands safari park are. All this is for is to make extra money for the zoo “charity”
By Nahh
Will you be having an accessible lodge as, my husband has parkinsons and cannot walk far or even climb steps?
By Anita Valentine
Giraffes eh…. They’ve got some neck…
By PS
Absolutely brilliant idea. Hopefully it will be successful and other zoos will follow.
When can l book?
By Irene Collins
Can’t wait to visit & stay. Waited so long for this at the best zoo we’ve ever visited.
By Anonymous
This further emphasizes what Chester Zoo has transformed into, a money making machine.
It used to be a great experience for a family day out now it is only interested in customers with deep pockets as it drifts shamelessly into the world of theme parks.
By Daniel Kelly
Costings per bungalow or per person estimated costs ?
By Anonymous
Some of these comments are just stupid. Don’t complain about prices when you haven’t a clue what they will be. It is all-out animal conservation and if you do not realise the fantastic work the zoo does, research more!!!! It costs many millions pounds to manage zoo of this size and complexity. During covid it nearly went under due to no assistance, unlike other zoos down south. Don’t complain enjoy the experience. Or if you are one of the minuscule minority and a negative person don’t comment, as you are not being forced to visit.
By Mike
Cannot wait for these to be open love Chester zoo
By Paul Shepherd
Fabulous idea, I only hope its affordable but I doubt it
By Karen