New koala enclosure approved at Edinburgh Zoo to replace old one with new modern energy efficient facilities
Edinburgh Zoo is set to replace its crumbling old koala enclosure with new modern, energy efficient facilities, after the plans were approved by the council.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) applied for permission in October to demolish the existing Koala Enclosure built in the 1970’s. The re-use of this building had been explored but there were significant challenges according to the applicant.
Approved by council planners on January 19, the old enclosure will be replaced by a new purpose-built more energy efficient building at the same site in the zoo. The new enclosure will be powered by the zoo’s existing solar meadow.
The zoo said the current enclosure building is not suited to current needs, and upgrading it would be “impractical”.
Approving the proposals, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “The existing structure is in poor condition and the replacement building would not detract from the landscape quality and characteristics of the greenbelt.
“It would be of an acceptable size and design and would support sustainable development goals. There are no material considerations which outweigh this conclusion.”
Mr Givan added that the existing enclosure is in poor condition with rotten timber and cracked glazing in places. While, the internal layout consists of small box-like rooms and narrow passageways which no longer serves their operational purpose.
He added that the proposals “will provide improved outdoor and facility support areas for the koalas”.
The existing enclosure is of an L-shape form and is mainly of wooden construction with glazed roof. There is an area of defined open space to the immediate east and several trees surrounding the site.
The replacement enclosure at the zoo on Corstorphine Hill will be 3.7 metres high and consist of timber cladding with aluminium sliding entrance doors and a flat roof.
In the planning documents, the applicant said: "As demonstrated, we are proposing to replace an existing building that no longer meets current energy efficiency and animal welfare standards and presents challenges for safe maintenance.
“Originally designed to house lions, the building is not well suited to the current requirements for koala care. Upgrading the structure to meet contemporary standards would be impractical, making replacement the most effective solution.
“We are proposing a new efficient building that will provide the koalas with a purpose-built enclosure designed to meet their specific needs, while also being highly energy efficient and powered entirely by the zoo’s existing solar meadow.“
The plans received no public comments on the council’s online planning portal, and the RZSS now has three years to begin work to replace the koala enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo.
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