Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone’s green spaces revamped by council

Leeds City Council are currently undertaking a wide-ranging programme of environmental improvements in an area dedicated to steering forward economic growth and job creation in the city.

As of November 2014, the council has planted over 140 standard and semi-mature trees as part of a continued initiative to improve green spaces along the route of the A63 in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.

Further work in the enterprise zone that will be undertaken over the next 12 year by staff and 18 council apprentices include the planting wild flowers and 2,000 saplings to create new woodland. An additional 50,000 bulbs will also be planted this October in an effort to bring colour to the enterprise zone next spring.

Since development work is now underway across all four sites within the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, including 425,000 sq. ft. of development and employment space currently under construction, these environmental improvements will be crucial in making Leeds much more appealing to investors and will encourage more businesses to relocate to the area.

New industrial premises designed for modern manufacturing companies and a £150m recycling and energy recovery facility at Newmarket Lane are already featuring in the enterprise zone, whereas a £7.5 million project of infrastructure and ground engineering work is also being developed at Temple Green, the largest of the four sites within the enterprise zone.

Furthermore, the projects include a new spine road to open up access to further phases of development and a 1000-space park and ride facility, which is scheduled to be operational in April 2016.

On hand to plant the last of the standard and semi-mature plants with the apprentices were Councillor Richard Lewis and Councillor Mark Dobson.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and economy said: “We are already seeing some very positive results in both the levels of new development and jobs being created in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, and as part of our strategy we have a real commitment to make a range of long-lasting environmental improvements in the area.

“This work forms part of a range of other environmental initiatives that we will be undertaking in the enterprise zone later this year, including the planting of around 2,000 saplings to create new woodland and over 50,000 bulbs.”

Councillor Mark Dobson, Leeds City Council’s executive member for cleaner, stronger and safer communities said: “It’s fantastic that apprentices from the council’s parks and countryside team have been given the opportunity to work on this programme of tree planting to revamp and enhance some of the green spaces in the enterprise zone along the A63 corridor. This is a great example of how our apprentices are able to develop through a wide-ranging learning programme which equips them with new skills and makes a real contribution on major council projects.”