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13/01/2011
Groundbreaking - Patricia Swannell with children from Little London Primary School, Leeds
The transformation of Victoria Gardens has begun!
This prominent and well-loved site in Leeds City Centre is receiving the Groundwork treatment as part of Marks & Spencer’s Greener Living Spaces Programme: a major UK-wide programme of environmental improvement projects funded by the 1.85p profits from their 5p food carrier bag charging scheme.
Patricia Swannell, wife of M&S Chairman Robert Swannell, officially broke the ground today, along with other representatives from Marks & Spencer – including Richard Gillies, Director of Plan A - as well as Leeds City Council, with whom Groundwork is working in close partnership on this project. Patricia was assisted by children from Little London Primary School who were involved in the consultation phase of the project.
In his address, Richard Gillies emphasised the huge importance of the city of Leeds to Marks & Spencer - its birthplace over 125 years ago.
Cllr Adam Ogilvie added: “We are delighted by this development as it will create a setting for the Art Gallery and Central Library building that really responds to the amazing architecture, and also creates ‘an outside room’ that offers us so many possibilities. It raises the bar for green public spaces in the city which I hope we will be able to maintain as we develop other key spaces.”
Work is due to be completed in Spring. You can find out more about the Victoria Gardens project, and stay up to date with progress, here on our website.
