You could soon be able to stay overnight in a safari lodge, and wake up to see giraffes and other animals roaming freely.
That’s right… it’s finally happening.
It’s been a very long time coming, but this week – after several years of waiting following plans first being hinted at in 2019, and revised plans then being unveiled back in June 2022 – Chester Zoo has now been given the highly-anticipated green light to build dozens of savannah-style lodges on a plot of its land that’s currently not being actively-used.
A total of 51 lodges have been approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning department as part of the ‘Grasslands’ development – with some of them set to overlook a lake, while others overlook an enclosure with free-roaming giraffes.
As mentioned, similar proposals to those that’ve been green-lit this week had been approved in 2019, but they had to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Plans have been approved to build dozens of new overnight safari lodges at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
Revised plans were then submitted in 2022 for 63 lodges, but this was later reduced to 51.
On top of the reduction to 51 lodges last year, a number of changes also had to be made to the design of the development’s welcome building to make it “simpler” in response to rising costs, according to reports by CheshireLive and BBC News.
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The approved plans include four types of lodges, all with a design based on traditional timber African safari lodges.
Alongside the 51 lodges, the Council’s planners have also approved a two-storey reception building with a bar and restaurant, an orientation lodge, and the groundworks for the all-important creation of a lake the development’s set to overlook.
Visitors will be able to wake up too see giraffes and other animals roaming freely / Credit: Chester Zoo
Given that the development is proposed for Green Belt land, this means it can only be built on if special circumstances are demonstrated, and other considerations also had to be taken into account by the Council’s planning committee too, such as the contribution the zoo makes to the local economy, and the benefits it provides to education and global conservation initiatives.
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But the planners’ report stated that all those requirements had been met in the latest proposals submitted by the zoo.
“Taken together, it is considered that these considerations outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and amount to very special circumstances,” the report stated.
It then concluded that: “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”.
A timeline for works, and predicted project completion dates are set to be announced in due course, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Travel & Tourism
The vision to turn familiar Manchester tower into a beautiful new hotel
Daisy Jackson
Plans are beginning to take shape to turn a landmark building in Manchester’s NOMA neighbourhood into a beautiful new hotel.
New Century House – the Grade II-listed, 14-storey tower next to New Century Hall – could be transformed into a 196-bedroom luxury hotel.
And if it all goes ahead as planned, that might mean a new rooftop restaurant and bar.
The huge 1960s building has a classic modernist design and is a familiar sight in the Manchester city centre skyline.
Now MEPC, the Development and Asset Manager for the NOMA estate, is working with hotel and leisure specialist practice Jenics to secure a hotel partner to see the plans brought to life.
The former Co-operative Insurance Society, later The Co-operative Group, could be transformed into an hotel with views across the city.
The proposals at this stage include restaurant and bar spaces, plus conference and leisure facilities.
It would be at the heart of the NOMA neighbourhood, just a stone’s throw from the AO Arena, Manchester Victoria, and all the local businesses that have sprung up, from The Sadler’s Cat pub to the reborn New Century Hall music venue and food hall.
Plans for the new hotel include a sky-high restaurant space. Credit: NOMAThe new hotel would have great views of Manchester. Credit: NOMA
The area is also home to the already-acclaimed and Michelin-recommended Skof restaurant.
NOMA is already home to businesses including Amazon, The Co-operative Group, ath-leisure brand Adanola, Material Source, and Arcadis IBI Group.
Once a hotel partner is secured, MEPC and Jenics will submit a formal planning proposal to Manchester City Council.
Dan Hyde, development director at MEPC, developer and asset manager at NOMA said: “New Century House is a Manchester landmark and we believe now is the right time to bring it back to life as a hotel.
New Century House is a landmark in NOMA. Credit: NOMAThe building could become a hotel. Credit: NOMA
“It’s a natural next step for our growing neighbourhood with the building located either side of BNY at 4 Angel Square and the destination venue of New Century Hall.”
Jeremy Collins of Jenics added: “Manchester has huge international visitor pull thanks to its global connectivity, world-leading universities and sporting and cultural assets.
“New Century House is a rare and outstanding opportunity and will be a tremendous addition to Manchester’s visitor economy offer, both from a business and leisure perspective.
“NOMA has adopted a flexible approach to secure a ‘best fit’ occupier by way of either a virtual freehold sale or lease disposal. This approach will drive positive interest from a range of operators.”
People are flocking to the ‘best sunset spot’ with beautiful views of Manchester
Daisy Jackson
As much as we love escaping the hustle of Manchester for some fresh air, we don’t like to stray TOO far.
So finding a patch of green on the outskirts of the region that happens to have sweeping views of home is absolutely ideal.
And what makes it even better is a gorgeous sunset.
Recently, people have started falling back in love with the views from one particular sunset hotspot in Greater Manchester, which handily has a great pub too.
We are of course talking about Werneth Low in Tameside, a country park where you can soak in views of the entire Manchester city centre skyline.
From way up here you can see the familiar shapes of Deansgate Square, Beetham Tower, the Manchester Town Hall, the Arndale and the Etihad Stadium.
As Werneth Low is west-facing, you get perfect views of the sunset over Manchester.
In fact it’s so beautiful, a few people in the comments of this video thought it was LA…
Werneth Low itself officially became a country park in 1980 – but prior to that it had been protected as a lasting tribute to the 710 men from the local area who died in World War One.
Credit: TikTok, charliefloydsadventuresCredit: TikTok, sophsandellaPeople are flocking to the ‘best sunset spot’ with beautiful views of Manchester
There are miles of footpaths to explore in this pretty country park, but if you want to find the view that will take your breath away, you need to head across to Werneth Low Road.
Here you’ll also find The Hare & Hounds pub, a handsome old building that dates back to 1728.
The rustic pub calls itself a gateway to the Peak District and sits right alongside the well-trodden Trans Pennine Trail.
From the inside, it’s all exposed beams, low ceilings and open fires, but outside is where the real treat is – those panoramic views.
As you look out across Manchester, you’ll be able to see FIVE different counties, and even the dark silhouette of the Welsh mountains on very clear days.
So Werneth Low (and its views of Manchester) has clearly always been popular with Tameside locals, walkers, families, and Mancs in the know, but lately it’s found a new fame through social media.
Platforms like TikTok are suddenly peppered with young people discovering this beautiful spot.