A planning application has been submitted by Chessington World of Adventures for a new lorikeet enclosure to replace Lorikeet Lagoon in Wild Asia, which will be removed as part of the area’s redevelopment for Project Refresh & Renew.
Like the existing enclosure, the new lorikeet enclosure is proposed to be home to Rainbow Lorikeets, Australian Pigeons, and several wading bird species. The enclosure will give guests a chance to see the birds up close, as well as offering opportunity for feeding and managed interaction under the supervision of zoo staff. As well as being necessitated by Project Refresh & Renew, the relocation of the lorikeet enclosure has also been informed by Chessington’s longer term vision to strategically reorganise its estate to segregate the zoo from the theme park.
The new lorikeet enclosure is proposed for a site adjacent to the entrance to ZUFARI, which currently contains the flamingo enclosure, including two single-storey buildings (the rhino hide to the west and the flamingo house to the east), a pond and landscaping. A second alternative site was also considered for the new enclosure, being the area of hard-standing currently partially used for ZUFARI’s queue line. However, the chosen site is stated to have been strongly favoured owing to its natural characteristics, the ability to minimise tree loss, and the overall minimal need for intervention to adapt the environment to be suitable for the proposed species.
The proposals will therefore see the demolition of the existing flamingo house, with the construction of a replacement building in the same location to provide a new 4.5m tall lorikeet house. External alterations will be made to the existing rhino hide, including demolition of a part height wall and erection of a new front wall to enable half of the existing building to be used as a ‘nectar shop’ retail unit for sale of bird feed to guests. The other half will continue to function as a rhino hide. An entrance vestibule will be erected as an extension to the rhino hide, allowing guests and keepers to access the lorikeet enclosure. A small new building will be erected to provide an exit vestibule, including hand-washing stations for hygiene, and a store for keepers’ equipment to the south-west of the enclosure. Both the new lorikeet house and exit vestibule buildings are proposed to be clad in diamond shaped shingle tiles in a range of colours which are similar to the colours, though more muted, of the Rainbow Lorikeets, with the shape of the shingles replicating the plumage of the birds.
A new board-walk will form an accessible route between the existing hard standing level down to the new lorikeet house and back again to create a 50m walkthrough. The board-walk is proposed to be water-permeable to allow drainage into the existing habitat pond and balustrades to all sides of the board-walk will allow guests to safely walk along the bank edge to observe and interact with the birds. A small area between the entry and exit vestibules, away from the primary route around the experience, has been provided to allow keepers to deliver educational talks within the experience.
The habitat will be enclosed by a predominantly netted perimeter wall, although it will incorporate a solid base up to 1m from ground level for pest-proofing purposes, and flight netting overhead that is supported by a single post in the centre of the enclosure’s pond, with a height of 6.5m above the water level. The proposed enclosure and the wire netting has been selected both for its suitability for the birds’ welfare and in that its relative openness reduces the visual impact within the park. The highly transparent perimeter walls will also allow guests who don’t wish to enter the enclosure to observe the birds from a distance.
Landscape enhancements will include native marginal planting around the pond, proposed floating plants to cover at least 50% of the pond area, maintenance of the existing landscaping on site, and planting of mixed scrub in an area to the east of the site. In addition, biodiverse roofs are proposed on the new buildings. The proposed development will result in the loss of two eucalyptus trees and an area of shrub which are current within the enclosure. This loss will be mitigated by the proposed off-site planting which includes the planting of six new trees within the wider habitat bank that is to be created within the Resort’s ownership boundary.
Documents submitted as part of the planning application indicate that the new enclosure is planned to be constructed over a 6 week period during July and August 2025, with a decision due on the application by the end of the first week in July. Once the lorikeets are relocated to their new enclosure in late August, this will enable the demolition of Lorikeet Lagoon in Wild Asia as another step in the clearance of the site for Project Refresh & Renew which is planned to open in 2027.
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