Heart of Africa at Chester Zoo is the latest scheme to feature in CECA’s 30 Projects for 30 Years campaign, celebrating the contribution CECA members have made to the UK’s infrastructure since 1996.
Delivered by McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd for the North of England Zoological Society, the £24.5 million development is the largest zoo habitat ever created in the UK and the biggest project in Chester Zoo’s history.
Completed in March 2025, the scheme transformed eight acres of the zoo into an African savannah supporting more than 57 highly threatened species. It included 14 new buildings and 54,600 square metres of civil and structural works, including complex earthworks, bespoke drainage, specialist retaining walls and extensive landscaping.
The project was delivered while the zoo remained fully operational, requiring careful management of access, noise, vibration and visual disruption near sensitive animal habitats. McPhillips completed the scheme on time and within budget, while identifying £8 million of value-engineering savings through close collaboration with Chester Zoo.
Renewable technologies, recycled construction materials and a strongly local supply chain also helped the project generate lasting environmental, economic and social value.
Heart of Africa demonstrates how CECA members combine technical expertise, innovation and collaborative delivery to create infrastructure with an enduring legacy.