Yorkshire Wildlife Park submit plans for £50m 'game changing' expansion

Plans have been submitted for the first phase of a £50m expansion at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which will create around 300 new jobs.

The 150-acre expansion is set to enhance facilities and increase the species of animals cared for at the park.

Reports, surveys, plans and assessments have been submitted to Doncaster Council, detailing the first phase of the project on land adjacent to the current site at Branton.

The new land will enable an expansion of the existing park and a new access route from Hurst Lane, which will benefit from the second phase of the Great Yorkshire Way road scheme, leading from the motorway network to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The application includes details of the access route, new entrance and carparks, which will be landscaped to minimise impact on view from the approach by road.

Further detailed applications will follow for the development of the new area to link with the current Wildlife Park, which will include new animal reserves, lakes and landscaping and a visitor support hub at the new entrance with restaurants and a destination hotel.

An economic impact study compiled for the application revealed that nearly 1,500 extra indirect jobs in the regional supplier chain will be created in addition to the extra 300 full equivalent time directly attributable to the Park.

The project, if granted full approval, would take two years to complete.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is currently home to 400 animals from 80 different species, and attracted a record 761,000 visitors in 2016.

John Minion, CEO: “This is significant investment and a step change for Yorkshire Wildlife Park. We have been working hard to create an expansion that is in keeping with the ethos of the Park and is an asset for local people to enjoy and benefit from.

“We have consulted with experts on the environmental, ecological, transport and business impact. We believe that it will bring great benefit to the area.”

Cheryl Williams, director of Yorkshire Wildlife Park, added: “This could also be a game changing development for Doncaster as a UK destination.

“Leisure has become a key part of the Doncaster story. Our development is located close to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Doncaster Racecourse and the new proposed PGA Golf course at Rossington. This will provide a critical mass of world class tourist attractions and bring an international audience to Doncaster.”

Ros Jones, the Mayor of Doncaster, commented “The Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a fantastic success story and a great asset for Doncaster. It offers a superb visitor experience, delivers valuable conservation work, and provides hundreds of jobs and a multi-million-pound contribution to our economy.

“I welcome these exciting expansion plans, which are testament to the hard work of everyone at YWP, and I am sure they will see the park go from strength to strength.”

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