Plans have been submitted for a new Discovery Centre at
The University of Manchester’s famous Jodrell Bank
Observatory.
The Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics is the astronomical
research centre of the University of Manchester. Featuring the
iconic 76m Lovell Telescope, the Centre helps astronomers study how
planets and stars form and reveal the nature of supernovae, neutron
stars and black holes. It has also played a major role in the
discovery of quasars and gravitational lenses, and in understanding
pulsars.
This is a really important milestone for us and we"re absolutely delighted that our project is moving forward
A formal planning application for the work has been submitted to
Cheshire East Council and funding is being sought for the plans
which are predicted to attract thousands of extra visitors to the
site – part of the University’s School of Physics and
Astronomy.
Capita Symonds is providing project management and civil and
structural engineering services for the proposed scheme which is
being designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.
The project, which it is hoped will form ‘phase one’ of a wider
redevelopment of the visitor facilities, has a total floor space of
1000 square metres, and will include:
- A ‘Planet Pavilion’ entrance building including an orientation
centre and stylish glass-walled café with spectacular views of the
Lovell telescope;
- A ‘Space Pavilion’ incorporating a multi-purpose exhibition,
events and education space;
- Landscaping of the site’s 35 acre Arboretum to create a a
‘Space Garden’ as well as a ‘Galaxy Maze’ based on the shape of the
Milky Way.
Dr Teresa Anderson, Director of the Jodrell Bank Discovery
Centre, said: “This is a really important milestone for us and
we're absolutely delighted that our project is moving forward. It
has taken considerable work to get to this point and we would like
to thank the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and a
range of other major stakeholders including the local community and
our visitors for their feedback and support.”
“Alongside plans to redevelop our facilities, we will be taking
the opportunity to revitalise our visitor programme, and we look
forward to welcoming lots of new people to Jodrell Bank in the
future,” she adds.
Lord Keith Bradley, chair of the University steering group for
the project, said: “The redeveloped facilities at Jodrell Bank will
open our doors to even more people, allowing them to engage with
the University's world leading research - and inspiring young
people to become the scientists of the future.”
The planned development has strong support from Sir Bernard
Lovell, founder of the Jodrell Bank Observatory and creator of the
Lovell Telescope, who lives nearby. Sir Bernard said: “As the
founder of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, I am delighted to hear
that there are plans to upgrade the facilities for visitors to the
site. The very modern design that has been developed reflects the
fact that the work of Jodrell Bank is at the forefront of research
into astrophysics. The new facilities will pass on the spark of
inspiration to the school pupils who are the scientists of the
future. I look forward to this development going ahead very
soon.”
If funding is found, the first building could be complete around
3-4 months after work begins on site, with all work completed
within 12 months. Astronomers will continue to carry out
observations and world-class science while the redevelopment work
takes place, while consultation and feedback sessions on the plans
have already been held for local residents and scientists working
on the site.
Jodrell Bank has been instrumental in numerous scientific
discoveries, including providing the best test of Einstein’s theory
of gravity - General Relativity. In 1957 the Lovell Telescope was
the only telescope in the world powerful enough to track the rocket
that carried the Soviet satellite Sputnik into space.
Jodrell Bank currently operates the UK’s e-MERLIN network of
telescopes on behalf of the Science and Technology Facilities
Council (STFC). Once fully operational, this fast and powerful
network of seven radio telescopes will allow astronomers to carry
out observations which previously took several years in just a
single day.
Jodrell Bank also hosts the global headquarters for the Square
Kilometre Array radio telescope – a huge £1 billion international
project that will survey the sky thousands of times faster than any
imaging radio telescope ever built.
Anyone wanting to keep up to date with progress and latest
developments can visit the Jodrell Bank Discovery
Centre website