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14/12/2009
How the site in central Leeds appears now
Marks & Spencer has announced that it is to complete its 125th birthday celebrations by developing a £200,000 sustainable garden in the heart of Leeds, the city in which the company was founded. Working in partnership with Groundwork, M&S will transform the city's existing Victoria Gardens into a focal point for the local community.
Physical work on the site is scheduled to be complete by the end of October 2010. The newly refurbished gardens will include a range of green features and also utilise recycled and reused materials, sourced locally where possible.
The garden will feature an array of plants, seating and artwork to promote local identity, civic pride and social interaction. The garden's design will help to soften the current concrete and stone dominated area, helping to create an attractive meeting location amid the urban landscape.
Local stakeholders have played a key role in the consultation process for this project. The Local Authority identified Victoria Gardens as a priority area for improvement in Leeds, citing the lack of green infrastructure and the site's high-profile location as prime reasons for its development. The project has the active support of Leeds City Council and their Parks & Countryside Department and the involvement of local groups with an interest in the site such as the British Legion, Leeds Civic Trust and the Chess Society, who use the popular open air chess boards in the area.
Richard Gillies, Director of Plan A at Marks & Spencer, said: "This ambitious project will provide a fantastic green space for the people of Leeds right in the heart of the city. M&S started as a market stall in Kirkgate Market in 1884 and it is fitting that we should make a substantial donation to the city to celebrate our 125th birthday. We're delighted to be working with Groundwork to deliver this, and we look forward to seeing the garden take shape over the coming months."
Adrian Curtis, Executive Director of Groundwork Leeds said: "Victoria Gardens is an important and popular site in the centre of Leeds and we are really pleased to be working with M&S and Leeds City Council to create an improved community space. Doing this in a way that promotes sustainability is a particularly exciting challenge."
Councillor John Procter, Leeds City Council Executive Member for Leisure, said:
"We are really pleased to be creating this new green space in such a central location in Leeds. It will transform the look of that area of The Headrow, which is used by thousands of people each day and will greatly enhance the key cultural attractions on Victoria Gardens, which are Central Library, Leeds Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute.
"The Cenotaph will also remain a key element of the garden and events will continue to be held there. We are all looking forward to seeing this new garden take shape and thank Marks & Spencer for its generous support."
This project provides an opportunity for employees of Marks & Spencer's stores in Leeds and West Yorkshire to become actively involved in the design and building of the garden. Employees will also be invited to attend public consultation workshops, ensuring the finished garden truly reflects M&S' identity and heritage.
