KentOnline

bannermobile

News

Sport

Business

What's On

Advertise

Contact

Other KM sites

CORONAVIRUS WATCH KMTV LIVE SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTERS LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS LISTEN TO KMFM
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
News

Ashford Designer Outlet's living wall revealed

By: Charlie Harman

Published: 15:00, 11 April 2019

Updated: 15:24, 11 April 2019

Work has begun on a £1.5 million plant installation which will prove the centrepiece of a shopping centre's expansion.

As part of the £90 million Ashford Designer Outlet project, a 'living wall' will be erected alongside 50 new retail units.

The display will feature about 120,000 plants, making it the largest living wall in Europe.

Plants have been specifically chosen for their colour and flowering seasons

A leading company in the field - Biotecture - is designing, growing and installing the greenery, which will stretch to the length of 60 double-decker buses.

Being raised in the firm's West Sussex nurseries, amongst the species will be Fortune Spindles, Boxleaf Honeysuckles, Ivy and Violas.

mpu1

The selection has been hand-picked to shine all year round, and to bloom with the whole colour spectrum.

According to Biotecture, green wall systems can improve viewers' moods, reduce air pollution and aid biodiversity.

Exclusive pictures show the work being done by Biotecture on Ashford Designer Outlet's living wall
Fifty new shops will be added to the site

Richard Sabin, Biotecture's managing director, said: “This is a fabulous project.

"We are working with McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford’s construction partner, McLaren, and landscape architects, Applied Landscape Design, to deliver the living wall and have taken on additional nursery space to accommodate the 8,000 or so hydroponic growing panels.”

Peter Corr, centre manager of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford said: "We’re thrilled to announce that the thousands of plants that will make up our £1.5 million living wall are currently growing and maturing in Biotecture’s nursery.

The display is made up of around 120,000 plants

"The first portion of the wall will be installed in the coming weeks, with the entire 2300 sq. metre living wall ready for guests to enjoy when our £90 million expansion launches in autumn 2019."

The 100,000 sq. ft scheme - one of Ashford Borough Council's 'Big 8' - is expected to create 500 jobs and has already garnered interest from top brands.

New facilities including an events space, food piazza, a £400,000 interactive children’s play area and 725 new car parking spaces will also be delivered.

How the extension will look

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford

Read more

More by this author

sticky

© KM Group - 2024