Creating a natural habitat in the city

Green walls planted on Riverside Sunderland’s new gateway car park

Green walls are springing into life on the exterior of a new car park in Sunderland. Sprawling across the north and south sides of the soon to open Farringdon Row multi-storey, the green walls span 6,000 square feet.

Designed to drive down carbon emissions and mitigate pollution, the green walls were designed by ANS Group and will provide a new gateway to the Riverside Sunderland urban development.

Overlooking Galley’s Gill and the soon to be developed Eye Hospital, the green walls feature over 51,000 plants in total, including Carex Pendula (for habitat and insects), Ulex Europass (for pollination) and Cotoneaster Suecicus (for berries and birds), some of which are native to Britain and were carefully selected for their ability to thrive in the local climate.

Steve McIntyre, urban environmental consultant at ANS, said: “We are incredibly proud to have played a part in the design of this project, which will not only see Riverside Sunderland bloom, but also play a huge role in helping the city achieve its low carbon ambitions. It is a perfect example of how development can be both aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. We’ve been blown away by the reception form the public so far. The project has been a real joy to be involved in.”

The 650-space car park has been constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine. The exterior design was created by Tonkin Liu Architects.

When the car park opens to the public it will operate outside of normal working hours to support the evening economy in the city centre.

Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of

Sunderland City Council, said:

“The living wall is yet another stunning addition to our city centre and we are absolutely thrilled to see it finally take shape. Standing atop Galley’s Gill, it will help the new car park blend perfectly into its natural surroundings while reducing emissions by, literally, breathing new life into the atmosphere.

“It will serve as a gateway to Riverside Sunderland, showcasing our commitment to sustainability and green living, while reinforcing the message to residents and visitors alike that Sunderland is a city focussed on becoming a city of the future.”