Salford City Council has given unanimous backing to the RHS’s proposals to develop their fifth national garden in Salford.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is unveiling plans to bring back to life the lost historic grounds at Worsley New Hall in Salford.
At the full council meeting, City Mayor Ian Stewart said councillors were voting for Salford to become the green heart of the Manchester City Region and for a project which was as much of a ‘gamechanger’ as developing Salford Quays and MediaCityUK had been for the city.
And he said the prestigious links with the RHS, which is renowned nationally and internationally, could generate other investment in the city to boost Salford’s growth.
Mr Stewart said: “Without our support for the garden it will not happen. For every single pound we invest in this we will see several pounds come back into our city. This is capital investment – not money which can be spent on front line services.”
Councillors backed the proposal which will underpin the delivery of the garden alongside RHS’ investment of £25 million over the next decade.
Horticultural highlights will include the restoration of the ten acre Walled Kitchen Garden, one of the largest in the UK; recreating and developing historical features such as the tree lined Garden Approach and recovering the Terraces, which sit between the lake and the site of the lost Worsley New Hall.
Salford City Council will invest £3 million per year of capital funds over the next three years (£9 million in total) to secure the 999 year lease with £5 million ‘in-kind’ budgeted to support work with the RHS to get local people and community groups involved.
A further £5 million from the Highways Capital Programme will go towards delivery of highway infrastructure works including new road improvements which will also benefit the wider city. This will be phased over five years starting in 2016/17, with other highways funding being sought locally, regionally and nationally.
RHS Garden Bridgewater will support up to 400 jobs among local businesses and suppliers, is expected to generate up to £24 million for the local economy and create up to 200 direct jobs after it opens.
Nick Brooks-Sykes, director of tourism at Marketing Manchester, said: “RHS Garden Bridgewater will be a major tourism attraction for Greater Manchester, adding to Salford’s burgeoning leisure offer.
“The RHS, Salford City Council and Peel Land and Property have ambitions to see the garden open as a major visitor attraction and be a major contributor to tourism growth in Greater Manchester. Marketing Manchester is looking forward to being involved in its development as the garden progresses towards opening in 2019.”
