The Biota! Aquarium in Silvertown Quays will be linked to nearby Thames Barrier Park by Arup pedestrian bridge

The team behind the £90m Biota! Aquarium at Silvertown Quays has revealed Terry Farrell & Partners’ final designs for the scheme.

The aquarium’s designs now boast an ETFE roof, to be made from the translucent material used for the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Beijing Aquatics Centre.

The roof will cover the various ‘biomes’ that will house plants, fish, free-flying birds and other animals in the aquarium. The ETFE material allows natural daylight and ventilation.

Biota! will now be linked to the nearby Thames Barrier Park by a pedestrian bridge designed by Arup and Patel Taylor.

The £1.5bn regeneration of Silvertown Quays was given the go-ahead by Newham Borough Council in May. It will incorporate 5,000 new homes, 7,800m of office space and 5,570 sq m of bars and restaurants. It will also feature a total of 18,925 sq m of leisure facilities, including Farrell’s aquarium.

Biota! itself has now gone into planning at Newham Borough Council. A decision is expected in February 2008.