Jodrell Bank

Client Representative: Linsey Stansfield

Work at Jodrell Bank will ensure the Telescope and its site continue to be at the forefront of research and operate as a popular visitor attraction.

Star Pavilion and Planet Pavilion Cafe

Following the success of both the Planet and Space Pavilions completed in 2011 the aim is to expand the visitor experience at the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre. The Star Pavilion will create a flexible multi-purpose space catering for a number of uses, including teaching school classes, conferencing, lecturing and private hire events. The capacity of the café is being increased by 30%.

Telescope Repairs

The iconic Mark 1 Telescope, formerly the Lovell Telescope, is a Grade1 listed structure. Completed in 1957, it is now necessary to refurbish and overhaul some of its components, to ensure its continued operation for the foreseeable future and to help maintain its scientific competitiveness.

Control Building

Built in the 1970s, the original brick Control Building is considered to have architectural merit and historical significance. The proposal is to refurbish and reinvigorate it’s presence.

Overnight Accommodation

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with a square kilometre (one million square metres) of collecting area.

Rapidly increasing interest from the the scientific community on a global scalehas led to increased demand for improved accommodation facilities for SKA staff and visitors, and visiting academics to the Observatory.

Telescope Maintenance Sheds

Generally the existing telescope maintenance sheds have been around for significantly longer than originally intended and are in a state of disrepair and need to be demolished and replaced by new maintenance facilities.

Site Wide Infrastructure

With a number of future projects being proposed the opportunity is being taken to look at the site’s infrastructure provision including heating .

Car Park Rationalisation

There is currently insufficient car parking across the site for both visitors and staff at Jodrell Bank and these numbers are expected to increase. In conjunction with other site-wide studies, the provision of car parking will be considered.

Southside Rationalisation

The early development of the JBO was concentrated on the southern side of the site to support the operation of the Observatory and its telescopes, and this part of the site has an important part to play in the history of the JBO. A Historical Significance Report confirmed this.

A Conservation Management Plan for the whole of the JBO site needs to be commissioned before the brief and scope of works for this project can be developed.

HLF Funded Project (First Light Pavilion)

The scope of the project is to celebrate and conserve the science heritage of Jodrell Bank. It will have distinct conservation and interpretation elements and will also focus on public engagement. Urgent conservation of the Lovell Telescope is required in conjunction with a further submission for World Heritage Site Status in 2016, and that the recent death of Sir Bernard Lovell has made imperative the need to collate relevant archive material, artefacts and documentation. As well as conservation of the fabric of the Telescope and the site, the project includes the construction of a new building, located in the Arboretum, which will house a dedicated exhibition and immersive media space.

World Heritage Site Status

The UoM’s application to UNESCO for World Heritage Site Status in 2016 is designed to help preserve the historical significance of the JBO site. Should the application for World Heritage Site Status be successful, it should help to ensure the preservation of the JBO site, and allow the story of JBO’s historical development to be told for many generations to come.