Northumbria University - Watch and go

An academic's design for a portable wildlife observatory is to become a reality. Paul Jones, director of architecture programmes in the School of the Built and Natural Environment at Northumbria University, originally submitted his plans to an international competition. They were then spotted by the Arts Council, Lincolnshire County Council and a number of wildlife organisations. The groups will now use the design as the basis for their own development on the heritage sands at Huttoft in Lincolnshire. The £600,000 building will generate all its own power from renewable energy. Completion is planned for autumn 2011, in time for the winter bird migration.