Construction work will begin in August on Chester Zoo's £30m Islands project.

The contract to build was awarded to engineering company Laing O'Rourke following a nationwide tender process.

Set to open in 2015, Islands will occupy a previously unoccupied area of the zoo's estate and will feature flora and fauna from the exotic islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi.

There will also be a new Indonesian jungle house - one of the largest indoor zoo exhibits in the UK - which will act as the new home to Sumatran orangutans, Sulawesi macaques and a new species for the zoo, the sunda gavial crocodile.

Islands will be the first phase of the Zoo's ambitious, £225m Natural Vision scheme that has been in planning for years.

First announced in January 2009, the original plans for Natural Vision included a £90m biodome - entitled Heart of Africa - as the first phase, but
the project was put on hold indefinitely due to government cuts in 2011.

Simon Mann, Chester Zoo's Development Director, said: "This marks a new stage in the development of Chester Zoo and it will be unlike anything experienced before in a UK zoo.

"Islands is a complex project that includes the creation of landscaping themed to each island, an exotic boat journey and world-class animal exhibits which marry the exact needs of our animals with the best experience for visitors.

"We're bringing these islands to life, right here in the heart of leafy Cheshire, and making the opportunity to visit these far-flung places a reality for many people."