Work is set to begin on a new green wall in Gloucester aimed at reducing pollution and increasing biodiversity.

The new green infrastructure is part of a £107m development by Gloucester City Council and its partners, Reef Group known as the Forum.

In an effort to cool the city, reduce noise pollution and increase the city’s biodiversity, the living wall will include over 600 square metres of planting, and will be located on the side of the development’s new 398-space multi-storey car park.

The building itself is on track to be net-zero carbon, with electricity produced through renewable methods, such as rooftop solar panels.

Living wall and green roof specialist, Viritopia (formally known as ANS Global) will be collaborating on the project, following the company’s recent completion of Europe’s largest living wall.

News that work is scheduled to begin this month follows the recent unveiling of the Gloucester climate change strategy and climate risk assessment, which set out the council’s plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

Alongside the project, the next phase of improvements to Westgate Street includes the installation of more trees to improve the city’s tree canopy cover, as well as the sowing of mixed biodiverse planting in newly established planters.