National Institute for Research into Aquatic Habitats | |
---|---|
| |
52°04′20″N 0°29′50″W / 52.072179°N 0.497186°W [1] | |
Location | Stewartby, Bedfordshire |
Land area | 100 hectares (250 acres) |
The National Institute for Research into Aquatic Habitats (commonly abbreviated as NIRAH) was a planned freshwater public aquarium in Stewartby, Bedfordshire. Originally sited at a 100 hectare (250 acre) location, with an expected cost of £350 million, the project failed to meet its planned completion date in 2012. [2] [3] [4] The site of the aquarium was sold in 2015, with an expected loss of £4 million. [5] [6]
The project was granted planning permission in 2007, with estimated costs ranging from £350 million to £600 million. [2] [3] [4] The proposed site was a 100 hectare (250 acre) site of a former brickworks in Stewartby, Bedfordshire, with completion expected during 2012. This was not met, with the project hampered by a number of delays and "a lack of investment" [4] until planning permission expired in 2014. The site was sold in June 2015 for an "undisclosed amount". [5]
The project had been supported by public money, including more than £1.2 million from the former Bedfordshire County Council and £2 million from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. [4] The BBC noted in March 2014 that "[n]either the government, nor the councils, are currently seeking to recover the debt, much of which is secured against the value of the land." [4] Administrators involved in the sale of the land confirmed in June 2015 that there would be "minimal recovery" of the then-£5 million debt. [6]