A group of UK scientists is looking to develop a giant £250m double-domed fresh water aquarium that would dwarf Cornwall’s Eden Project.

The National Institute for Research into Aquatic Habitats (NIRAH) could become one of the UK’s leading visitor attractions if it achieves its target of pulling in around two million visitors a year.

NIRAH would become the world’s largest aquarium with a collection of thousands of endangered species along its man-made river banks and within it rainforest environment.

The 100 acre complex would house 20 million gallons of fresh water and around 200 exhibits beneath two 15,000sq m transparent geodesic domes, making the complex eight times bigger than the largest existing aquarium in Osaka, Japan.

Inside the two domes, a habitat including rivers, a lake, a rainforest, a mangrove forest and wetlands would be created, according to the requirements of the species they house.

NIRAH aims to create a series of replicated natural environments to allow visitors and researches alike to benefit from seeing a range of species which have never been displayed in captivity before.

A spokesperson said that the location of NIRAH is still undecided but that the team is currently negotiating with a number of possible sites.

NIRAH hopes to attract public funding to help with the development costs.

The project – founded by Bristol-based Steve La Thangue in 1997 – is an international initiative developed by 64 scientists worldwide and is backed by Oxford, Liverpool and Southampton universities.

As well as aiming to develop a successful visitor attraction, the team hoe to make NIRAH a leading site for the research and study of freshwater habits. Details: www.nirah.org