Henry Brothers Construction has secured a £25m contract to build a Global Conservation Centre at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire.
The project, developed by UK conservation charity Twycross Zoo with support from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and several universities, has received £18m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
It is the largest single public investment ever made in a UK zoo, according to a press release by Henry Brothers.
The contractor, part of Northern-Ireland-based Henry Group, will deliver a campus combining research, education and accommodation facilities alongside a new habitat for Bornean orangutans.
The main construction works are due to begin later this month, with completion expected by late 2026.
The two-storey development will include a 200-seat lecture theatre overlooking the orangutan habitat, three indoor classrooms, wildlife gardens, and a science laboratory.
A separate residential block will provide 24 bedrooms for students and visiting experts. The Indonesian-themed orangutan area is intended to expand the zoo’s international conservation programme and support partnerships with eight UK universities.
HLM Architects designed the scheme, with Hexa providing civil and structural engineering and Couch Perry Wilkes leading on mechanical and electrical work.
The project is expected to create 90 jobs and generate £3.9m in gross value added per year.
Ian Taylor, managing director of Henry Brothers Construction, said the scheme’s proximity to exotic animals made it a unique and memorable project for the company.
Dr Rebecca Biddle, chief conservation officer at Twycross Zoo, said the centre would enable closer collaboration between researchers and wildlife, providing new opportunities to study and develop conservation solutions.
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Colin Marrs