Blackpool Zoo wins approval for new safari tent
Blackpool Zoo has been granted planning permission to install a large new safari-style tent as part of ongoing improvements at the popular visitor attraction.
The new structure, approved by planners at Blackpool Council, will be used for a variety of public and corporate events, offering additional space for visitors, staff functions and team-building activities.
Plans submitted for the development included the creation of hardstanding and the erection of a safari tent complete with a raised platform base to serve as a dedicated event space within the zoo grounds.
According to a Planning and Design Statement submitted with the application, the facility is intended to support zoo events, meetings and corporate functions.
The statement said: “The Safari Events Tent will provide a space for zoo functions and events as well as for corporate groups; for meetings and as a base for team building days.”
The tent will be positioned in a central area of the zoo between the main café and the bird display arena. Planning documents noted that the chosen site is already heavily used, mainly consists of hardstanding and is considered to have minimal ecological value.
Developers also stressed that the structure would have limited visual impact because it cannot be seen from outside the zoo grounds.
Unlike a permanent building, the safari tent has been designed to be easily removable. The structure will use timber posts and framing mounted on a platform base, avoiding the need for extensive foundations or excavation work.
The walls and roof will be covered in treated canvas, with sand-coloured walls and a green roof designed to blend into the surrounding environment. Roll-up side panels with large clear plastic windows will allow sections of the tent to be opened during events, while wooden doors will provide everyday access.
Planning documents revealed the building will measure approximately 19 metres long and 5.4 metres wide, with a height of around 2.6 metres to the eaves and 3.8 metres to the ridge.
The design statement added that the tent would remain “in keeping with the adjacent buildings and structures.”
A report from the council’s Head of Development Management concluded the proposal would have minimal environmental impact and would not negatively affect drainage, ecology, local amenities or highway safety.
The report also highlighted wider benefits for the attraction, stating the development would support the continued growth of one of the area’s major tourist destinations while improving accessibility for visitors with disabilities.
Planning officers concluded that the proposal represented sustainable development and recommended that planning permission be approved.