Plans have been revealed for what would be one of the UK’s largest space centres, with an observatory and 200-seat planetarium, to be built in Ashford, Kent.
The multi-million pound scheme would be located to the south of Ashford, in an area where visitors to the centre can benefit from lower light pollution. The facility would also include a research laboratory with six state-of-the-art telescopes that could be used remotely by scientists from across the globe.
Visitor attractions would include a cinema and hands-on exhibits, while conference facilities will also be included.
Ashford Astronomical Society (ASS) has already put in funding bids for the development, though an exact figure has not been released.
“I am confident this will become a reality,” said Drew Wagar, AAS chair. "We have submitted some funding bids and we are already looking at planning regulations, where the centre could be located and transport links.
“The building and running costs will be in the millions – significant but not outrageous.
“We haven’t got an exact location, that will depend on availability of land, but it will be away from the town, towards Romney Marsh where we have these amazing dark skies."
The proposed area has some of the darkest skies in the UK, with Ashford Borough Council currently looking in to a policy to protect the area from light pollution in the future. ASS is planning to have the centre open and running by 2017.
