Consultant hired to assist in Berkshire herbarium construction project
New Herbarium to Rise at Thames Valley Science Park
Nicky Brock, a member of Carter Jonas Oxford, has been appointed to prepare the planning application for a new herbarium at the Thames Valley Science Park (TVSP). The project aligns with Kew's sustainability strategy, 'Positive by 2030: urgently tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis.'
The new facility, estimated to cost around £100m, is expected to maintain Kew's preserved plant collection of over 7m dried plant specimens for future generations. It will also provide extra space for new plants to grow.
The development will join the British Museum and the National History Museum, which are already located at the TVSP site.
The planning application for the new herbarium is anticipated to be submitted in December 2024, with planning consent hoped to be granted in May 2025. The move to the TVSP site will enable the redevelopment of the Kew Gardens site for improved and expanded research, education, and public engagement facilities.
The new herbarium building is committed to achieving or bettering the Royal Institute of British Architects 2030 challenge, a project designed to help architects design more climate-friendly buildings to reach net zero.
Details regarding the new herbarium building's sustainability strategy, architectural details, and planning application are yet to be disclosed. For precise current details, it is recommended to check the official Thames Valley Science Park planning portal, local council planning application databases, organizational announcements from the managing institution of the herbarium, and environmental and sustainability reports connected to the project.
Mark Rushworth, Project Director at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is enthusiastic about beginning work with Carter Jonas. Public and stakeholder consultation for the planning application is scheduled later in the year, involving liaising with council officers and local stakeholders.
As a world-class herbarium, the building will ensure the usability of the collections for biodiversity research. The University of Reading is promoting the location of the new Herbarium at Thames Valley Science Park. The project aligns with Kew's mission to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on earth.
- The new herbarium at Thames Valley Science Park, planned to be climate-friendly, aligns with Kew's mission to address climate-change and biodiversity crisis.
- The regeneration of the Kew Gardens site, following the move of the herbarium to TVSP, will focus on improved research, education, and public engagement facilities, aiming for sustainability.
- In the realm of environmental-science and sustainability, the new herbarium's investment of £100m will secure the preservation of Kew's plant collection for future generations.
- As the project progresses, it is crucial for interested parties to stay informed about the new herbarium's sustainability strategy, architectural details, and planning application by checking official portals, local council databases, organizational announcements, and environmental reports.
