Jodrell Bank gets swanky visitor centre, infuriating maze

Iconic telescope sees some funding loving

Jodrell Bank, home to the Lovell radio telescope, is getting £3.1m in funding to build a new visitor centre, cafe and maze.

The centre has also just been granted planning permission so building could start as early as next month.

There will be a new Planet Pavilion entrance building, a glass-walled cafe (pictured), a Space Pavilion for events and exhibitions and landscaping to create a Galaxy Maze and Space Garden.

     

The Planet Pavilion could be open by the end of the year with the rest of the development finished by summer 2011.

Dr Theresa Anderson, Director of Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre, said she hoped the new buildings would help attract new visitors.

Sir Bernard Lovell, who founded Jodrell Bank, said he was delighted and hoped the new features would help inspire school kids - the scientists of the future.

Funding comes from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (£2.1m) and the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (£1m). More info is available here. ®