Exciting plans for Durrell are announced

Gillespies has today released the first details and unveiled new images of the £47 million masterplan designs for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

The Trust is redeveloping its Jersey headquarters to enhance the welfare of animals, increase potential breeding and research to benefit the conservation of species and boost its profile as both a major visitor destination and a highly successful conservation organisation.

As part of its masterplanning commission, Gillespies, in conjunction with visitor experience consultant, White Pine, reviewed the existing park and devised a new concept which will improve the welfare of the animals and create a visitor experience appropriate to the Trust's reputation as a world leader in conservation that ultimately promotes and inspires visitors to embrace and support conservation.

Gillespies in its role as lead consultant has overseen the appointment of architectural teams including Feilden Clegg Bradley, Bill Dunster and Todd Saunders (a specialist architecture firm based in Norway) to work on a new visitor centre, eco lodges for visitors to stay on the grounds, a new gorilla exhibit and a multi species tropical house for other endangered species.

Gillespies' partner, Jim Diggle says: “It is tremendous to work with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust on a project with a mission that is of such importance and relevance to us all for the future”.