A new £7m coastal wildlife attraction, Living Coasts, created by nearby Paignton Zoo, has opened on the Torquay waterfront.

Taking 12 months to build, the project is part of a Regional Development Agency (RDA) regeneration plan and was opened on 14 July to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Paignton Zoo.

Living Coasts has 59,000 sq ft of see-through netting supported on 35 special masts, giving the construction a strong silhouette and allowing birds to fly over spectators’ heads. Modelled on Cornwall’s Eden project, it also boasts a panoramic water’s-edge setting, wave machines in every exhibit and unique reconstructed habitats including an auk cliff for the puffins, razorbills and guillemots.

Allowing close access to the plants, animals and habitats, including seals, penguins, rats and sea ducks, Living Coasts was designed by the Torquay-based Kay Elliot Architects and has been built on the former Coral Island site. It was part-funded by the RDA and the European Objective 2 Programme and project managed by Barry Edwards – who is now working on the Imperial War Museum’s new Winston Churchill war rooms exhibition. Details:www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or www.torquay.com