| Viaduct Gardens | |
|---|---|
 Garden during planting in 2023 | |
| Type | Elevated urban linear park; public park |
| Location | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Coordinates | 53°47′39″N 1°33′34″W / 53.7943°N 1.5595°W / 53.7943; -1.5595 |
| Created | 2023 (2023) |
| Status | Grade II listed |
The Viaduct Gardens, initially marketed as the Viaduct Urban Garden, is an elevated park and garden in Leeds, England. The garden or park is located on top of the Grade II listed viaduct called Monk Bridge Viaduct, which is also sometimes used when referring to the gardens.
The park was completed in 2023, after it was converted from a disused railway viaduct. In 2024, it was shortlisted for Architects' Journal's annual award in the Landscape and Public Realm category.
Background
The Monk Bridge viaduct on which the park is located was constructed in the 1800s, presumed to be around the same time as the opening of the Leeds Central railway station in 1854. Leeds opted to close one of its central train stations in 1961 and amalgamated all the rail to Leeds railway station, which is now the only central railway station in Leeds. Leeds Central was then demolished years later, its site has now become the business district and public square, Wellington Place.
The viaduct was partly demolished, leaving around 200 meters of what would have been around half a kilometre long when the station was in use. Leeds's south is dotted with railway viaducts, both in use and abandoned. Following completion of New York City's High Line, a greenway was suggested on another viaduct, but construction is yet to start on that project. Meanwhile, a nearby developer purchased a much shorter disused viaduct, which has now become the Viaduct Urban Garden.
The design of the new Viaduct Garden was carried out by Ares Landscape Architects, as part of the adjacent residential development of The Junction.
Work on converting the viaduct began in 2022 and opened the first phase of the park in 2023. When the park opened it became the first elevated park in the county of Yorkshire.
Location
The garden is accessed to the west of Wellington Place, a public square in Leeds' west end. A new stairwell and lift were constructed on the end of the viaduct for access. Other access points are likely to be available in the future as nearby developments reach completion.
The Viaduct Gardens aren't to be confused with the Holbeck Viaduct Project, which is a much longer viaduct where proposals for over a decade have suggested the creation of a greenway running over a 1 mile in length.
The old train station was located a few hundred meters from the current viaduct park as you look towards central Leeds, with the viaduct serving as the main entrance and exit to the terminus train station.
References
- Wright, Greg. "Former Victorian railway landmark to be transformed into urban park in Leeds". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- "Holbeck Viaduct Project: City 'high line' plan for 2023". BBC News. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- "Parks in the sky inspired by New York's High Line". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- "Transformation of disused Leeds rail viaduct begins". New Civil Engineer. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- "Monk Bridge Viaduct: Inside the secret garden on top of a railway viaduct in Leeds city centre". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Transforming History: Monk Bridge Viaduct becomes Yorkshires first elevated urban Park". Nurture Group. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- "Leeds may get New York-style 'high line'". BBC News. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- "Transformation of disused Leeds rail viaduct begins". New Civil Engineer. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.