GREEN Belt campaigners have hit out at zoo bosses’ plans for a £225 million ‘Eden Project of the North’.
The Cheshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) say they are ‘seriously concerned’ about the planning application from Chester Zoo to build the ‘Heart of Africa’ Biodome up to the edge of the A41 from Flag Lane North to the Backford Dip.
The charity said it fears that the development, part of the zoo’s Natural Vision project, would have a ‘very significant impact’ on the Chester Green Belt.
Phase one of the project, which has been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council, is costed at £80m and the full plan will cost more than £225m.
The biodome will be a third larger in size than world-renowned Eden Project tropical dome in Cornwall, 180 metres long by 90 metres wide and 34 metres tall at its highest point, and will have one mile of footpaths.
The project is expected to create 650 jobs and attract 2.2 million visitors.
To cater for the increase in visitors the zoo has also included a 150-bed hotel in the planning application.
This has been fiercely opposed by CPRE campaigners, who say it could be detrimental to the local economy.
CPRE Cheshire’s chairman Peter Raynes said: “Building a 150-bed hotel - or possibly two hotels - and possibly a garden centre are not essential developments to the zoo and would represent ‘inappropriate development’ in the Green Belt.
“It would be better for the local economy and community that existing hotels should be filled because of this exciting new development than new capacity created on open countryside.
“This would have the added economic benefit of bringing visitors into Chester city centre.”
But zoo bosses hit back, claiming the hotel was a ‘key component’ of the development and would generate jobs.
Simon Mann, development director at Chester Zoo, said: “The hotel will have a wildlife theme and so will be very different to and complement the rest of the local and regional accommodation offer.
"The inclusion of a 'green hotel' is an integral part of the economic benefit we will generate and it will be a major provider of new jobs for the region.
“There are a range of other exciting projects planned for Chester and the surrounding area, which will also create a further demand for overnight accommodation and conferencing in Chester and Cheshire - and therefore spread the benefits locally and regionally.”
Mr Mann said the zoo had held meetings and extensive discussions with CPRE throughout development of the Natural Vision master plan.
He added: “The zoo has been pleased to have a detailed response from the CPRE on the phase 1 elements, including ‘Heart of Africa’.
“A comprehensive planning application for our world class development has been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester and is in the process of being considered.
“The full application can be viewed online via Cheshire West and Chester and our own website.”