![Henry Brothers will build a habitat designed specifically for Bornean orangutans [image from Twycross Zoo]](/assets/news_articles/2025/06/1750674948_twycross-zoo-orangutan.jpg)
Twycross Zoo鈥檚 planned Global Conservation Centre will provide facilities for study and outreach to help the fight against global extinction for endangered wildlife.
It is being developed by the zoo in partnership with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and eight universities, backed by 拢18m from the government鈥檚 levelling up fund 鈥� the biggest single government grant ever given to a UK zoo.
It will act as a centre for the zoo鈥檚 global conservation work, scientific research and education programmes.
Henry Brothers Construction鈥檚 build programme comprises: a two-storey building with classrooms, laboratories and a 200-seat lecture theatre; a two-storey residential block with 24 bedrooms for visiting professionals and students; and a new Indonesian-themed area of the zoo with a Bornean orangutan enclosure.
The construction team includes HLM Architects, civil and structural engineer Hexa, and Couch Perry Wilkes for mechanical and electrical engineering.
Construction begins this month and is expected to complete before the end of 2026.
Henry Brothers Construction managing director Ian Taylor said: 鈥淎s a company, we have wide experience of working at a huge range of different sites, but this is the first time that Henry Brothers Construction has had great apes, tigers and other exotic animals as our neighbours. It really is a memorable scheme that the whole team is excited to be involved in.鈥�
Twycross Zoo chief conservation officer Rebecca Biddle said: 鈥淭he unrelenting pressure that we face from the dual climate and biodiversity loss crises, pose a serious threat to the survival of our planet. Our conservation efforts need to be bigger, bolder and more united. Zoos are being called on to do more in this mission, and the Global Conservation Centre is our answer to that call.
鈥淯niquely designed and positioned to allow international conservationists to work in connection with the natural world, we believe that being alongside the species we are working to save will offer unrivalled opportunities to study, learn and develop real-world solutions for endangered wildlife.鈥澛�
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