A zoo owner has put forward plans for a new multi-purpose vet building as part of a project to bring a number of endangered species to his park.

A planning application has been submitted for a number of upgrades to the Fenn Bell Conservation Project on the Hoo Peninsula.

The site in Fenn Street, which became the first animal park to be given the title of a licensed zoo in Medway in 2017, sits off the Ratcliffe Highway in St Mary Hoo.

It is home to exotic animals including meerkats, toucans, barn owls and bobcats, of which many have been rescued and came via other wildlife parks.

However, the zoo has been plagued by financial difficulties in recent times.

Landlord Andy Cowell, who founded the park in 2015, says the attraction has lost more than £1 million since the pandemic, plus seen its monthly electricity bill rise from £1,500 to £4,500 a month during the same period.

He now hopes to transform the site by building a new multi-purpose one-storey building specifically for kitchen and vet facilities to enhance its appeal to visitors.

The park will also be investing in renewable energy improvements such as solar panels to increase efficiency, reduce long-term costs and future-proof the site.

The new building will provide a dedicated space to care for sick animals, enable more food to be stored, plus enable their transfer to other zoos.

Meanwhile, the park's existing zookeeper’s lodge will also be redeveloped.

If approved, a new facility will replace "outdated existing provision" with higher quality, purpose-built accommodation including a kitchen, bathroom, living quarters and office space.

Further changes would also see the adjacent Fenn Bell Inn Pub, also owned by Mr Cowell, be refurbished via improved insulation to reduce running costs, and deliver better kitchen facilities.

Mr Cowell said: "The new facilities will be as good as any other across the country, so they will be incredible.

"It will allow our zoo to carry out more conservation.

"We will be able to bring in a number of new endangered species of animals such as tapirs, gibbons and spider monkeys”.

He added: “Anyone who knows me will note that I work seven days a week and have had to jump over many hurdles to get here.

"Many would have given up, [but] I would fight to the last drop of blood for the zoo.

"We have supported many young adults over the years on work placements and have achieved the highest standards repeatedly.

"I hope we can carry on and finish the job I started".

An update on the plans is expected by Medway Council on May 7.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

The submission forms the second part of a controversial proposal to build homes next to the zoo put forward last month.

Plans were submitted in February, also by Esquire, for 44 properties on a 2.22-hectare plot next to the park.

Mr Cowell says this development will allow the zoo to clear all its debts and safeguard its future.

"We need investment, so I'm going to sell part of my field and use the money to push back on what our costs are," the 54-year-old explained.

"The money that I receive will be invested back into the zoo to protect its future.

"We will be able to clear all covid debts, invest into solar, reducing our usage down to nearly net zero [and] install a water borehole reducing our reliance on taking water from the mains.

"Just these three steps alone will save us over £100k a year on our current bills and allow us not to be so at risk of price increases and be more sustainable in the future".

If given the nod, 33 of the 44 homes would be private housing comprising 27 three-bed properties and six two-bed houses.

The remaining 11 would be classed as affordable first homes featuring two one-bed flats alongside nine two-bedroom houses.

There would be 93 car parking spaces for residents alongside multiple play areas.

However, villagers voted overwhelmingly to oppose the project.

More than 100 residents attended an extraordinary St Mary Hoo Parish Council meeting on February 21 to discuss the application.