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A Collaborative Design for Wellbeing, Biodiversity, and Legacy

A new rooftop garden at Eldon Square is being developed through a collaborative project that brings together staff, students, and environmental specialists. The initiative aims to transform an underused rooftop space into a welcoming communal garden that supports staff wellbeing while also enhancing biodiversity in the city centre.

The project is a partnership between Eldon Square, Gateshead College, and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. With guidance from the Wildlife Trust, the design will prioritise ecological value through carefully selected planting and habitat features that encourage pollinators and other urban wildlife.

Students from Gateshead College are actively involved throughout the project, gaining practical experience across several disciplines. Learners are contributing to site surveys, concept design, technical planning, and aspects of construction, allowing them to apply their skills to a real-world project while collaborating with industry partners.

Staff from Eldon Square have also played an important role in shaping the garden through a series of focus groups. Their feedback has informed the purpose and layout of the space, ensuring it meets the needs of those who will use it most.

The final design will feature a range of distinct zones, including quiet retreat areas for relaxation, social spaces for informal gatherings, accessible pathways, and wildlife-friendly planting. Together, these elements will create a flexible environment where staff can unwind, connect with colleagues, and enjoy a moment of calm above the busy retail centre.

Alongside the garden design, the project also includes a brief for a time capsule to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Eldon Square. The rooftop garden is considered a fitting location for this commemorative piece, embedding a sense of legacy within the space and allowing staff to enjoy and reflect on the centre’s history for years to come.

A full videography component will document the project’s development, capturing the collaborative process from early planning to completion. The finished garden will stand as both a practical wellbeing space and a demonstration of how partnerships between education, business, and conservation organisations can create meaningful and lasting urban green spaces.

staff taking part in roof top garden focus group

Throughout 2026, we hosted employee focus groups, which helped shape what the space should offer, with those insights then developed into a live brief for Gateshead College students.

The students have since applied their skills and ideas to a real project with lasting purpose, taking the scheme through to its current final design and budget stage.

We’re now looking ahead to bringing the chosen plans to life and creating a greener, more welcoming rooftop space where employees can relax and refresh during the working day.

A locally shaped project designed to deliver value for our environment, our education partners and our employees.