Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Chairman Peter May will soon pass on the reins to chairman designate, Keith Edelman, who will spearhead a £50 million seed funding round.

Edelman previously headed the £400m build project for Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium which was widely credited for elevating the club to the position of the UK’s richest football club.

Nirah’s aim is to become a world-class, science-led project focusing on the conservation of endangered species and research of rare species; offered to the public as a dynamic and involving educational visitor experience.

It will enable some of the world’s leading scientists and institutions to gain significant insights into previously little-known animal behaviours and aims to provide them the opportunity to explore the potential of derivatives from secretions, toxins and venoms – obtained through non-invasive techniques.

It will combine visitor and research facilities including an aquatic theme park, the world’s largest freshwater aquarium, two biotopes, gardens, a spa, hotels, a tropical diving centre, a research institute, and a science park.

Four miles south of Bedford and spread over 250 acres, it represents the biggest planning application ever to be submitted in Bedfordshire and will be the biggest tourist attraction in the county’s history, four times larger than Cornwall’s Eden Project with which it shares designers.

The project is expected to generate approximately 5,000 new jobs in Bedfordshire and has received considerable local community support despite some opposition from concerned animal rights groups.

Politically, there has been local cross-party support and over 12,500 signatures to support Nirah being located in Bedfordshire have been received by the county council who are determining the outline planning application.

The planning application was prepared by Arup (Planning), and was overseen by Ronnie Murning, previously Design and Development director for the Eden Project in Cornwall. Grimshaw & Partners Ltd, Nirah’s architects, designed the Eden Project.