Laing O鈥橰ourke has won the job to transform part of Chester Zoo into 鈥榚xotic鈥 islands as part of a 拢30m project

Chester Zoo said it had appointed Laing O鈥橰ourke to the job, which involves developing part of its site into the 鈥渆xotic islands鈥 of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi.

Chester Zoo said work would start in August 2013, with the 拢30m Islands project to open to the public in 2015.

The architect on the project is Dan Pearlman.

According to construction database Barbour ABI, the construction job is worth 拢16m.

Linked by a series of bridges and including a journey on water, Islands will be home to animals and plants from South-east Asian islands.

It will include a new Indonesian jungle house, which will be the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK and will house Sumatran orangutans, Sulawesi macaques and a sunda gavial crocodile.

It鈥檚 expected that it will take visitors two hours to journey their way around Islands.

Simon Mann, Chester Zoo鈥檚 Development Director, said: 鈥淭his marks a new stage in the development of Chester Zoo and it will be unlike anything experienced before in a UK zoo.

鈥淚slands is a complex project that includes the creation of landscaping themed to each island, an exotic boat journey and world-class animal exhibits which marry the exact needs of our animals with the best experience for visitors.

鈥淲e鈥檙e bringing these islands to life, right here in the heart of leafy Cheshire, and making the opportunity to visit these far-flung places a reality for many people. Finding a company who can understand our ethos and work confidently with us through the build process was vital.鈥

Tom Higgins, who leads Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 northern business, said: 鈥淟aing O鈥橰ourke is delighted to be working with Chester Zoo to deliver such an exciting project for the North West.

鈥淲e鈥檒l apply the latest engineering solutions to the project, including digital engineering and Design for Manufacture and Assembly; techniques that will offer best value and allow for a more sustainable and safe delivery.鈥