Be Inspired by Landscaping In and Around Leeds

Leeds Public Space Landscaping Shortlist

Below are a few of the public spaces designed by landscape architects in Leeds. The design of a public space can affect how it is used (or abused), how people feel as they move through it (relaxed, stressed, safe, scared, etc) and the whole atmosphere of the surrounding area.

Sovereign Square, Leeds

Urban plaza / green infrastructure
Landscape Architects: Re-Form.

Image of Sovereign Square, showing pathways, grassy areas and a mix of trees and plants.

Sovereign Square, Leeds

Sovereign Square is the first public realm project in the centre of Leeds for a generation. It is part of a series of inter linked spaces for a bigger vision to regenerate Leeds South Bank waterfront. Connecting the city centre to a future city park. The space is animated by a rich variety of tree planting, contemporary planting and two water features. It has become a popular destination for businesses people to have lunch.

A rill marks the line of the historic goit, which once powered the mills that were abundant in this part of the city centre. The project has been nominated for several awards and won the Leeds Architectural Award for best public space in 2017.

York Gate Garden, Adel Leeds

Garden landscape
Designer: Sybil Spencer.

Colour photograph showing a flower bed running alongside a high brick wall. There are various structural plants at different heights

York Gate Kitchen Garden, Leeds

York Gate is a one-acre garden tucked away behind the ancient church in Adel, on the northern outskirts of Leeds. Created by the Spencer family during the second half of the twentieth century, and bequeathed to Perennial in 1994, it is a garden of great craftsmanship and known as one of the most innovative small gardens of the period. The garden is made up of a series of rooms, defined by vegetation and architectural structures.

Leeds Architects working in Wider Yorkshire

Cutsyke Play forest, Castlefield

Play area.
Landscape Architects : Estellwarren.

Contemporary photograph of a children's adventure playground, including a bridge, climbing ropes and a tunnel slide.

Castlefield Park, near Leeds

The Play Forest is a highly innovative children's play area in Castleford. Children and community group members were involved in developing the ideas for the Play Forest.

Place: Mirror Pool, Bradford

Urban Plaza with Water Feature.
Landscape Architects : Gillespies, Leeds.

Contemporary photograph showing crowds of people on a summer day in a city centre shallow lake, with a grand building in the background

City Park, Bradford

Completed in 2012, Bradford’s City Park was designed as the centrepiece of the city’s regeneration. The space contains the largest city-centre water feature in the UK with a fountain that can reach 30m. The display of water and light changes through the day and night but the water can drain away fully to provide a space for events in the city.