Leeds Kids Get Arty to Support Merrion House Development

Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), the Leeds-based property investment and development company, has joined forces with Child Friendly Leeds to involve school children in its exciting Merrion House development.

Year three and four students at six local primary schools have taken part in a project that saw them tasked with designing a poster to depict ‘what makes a child-friendly Leeds’.

More than 400 pieces of artwork were received from the schools involved, which included Rosebank Primary School, Brudenell Primary School, Little London Primary School, Mill Field Primary School, Quarry Mount Primary School and Blenheim Primary School with the artwork being displayed on the hoarding within the pedestrian tunnel surrounding the Merrion House development project in Leeds city centre for all to enjoy.

Charlotte-Daisy Ziff, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Town Centre Securities PLC, said: “It was important to us to engage with the local community in this project as the refurbishment will not only benefit the city now, but also for future generations. Working with the schools was a pleasure, and we could not have done it without the support from our partners on the project including BAM Construction, BDP, Bond Dickinson, Gleeds, Hoare Lea and Richard Boothroyd Associates.”

The prominent themes emerging from the artwork received showed that school children wanted to see more football pitches, waterparks, greenery, iconic buildings, smiles and sunshine. It is hoped that some of the designs will be reused as internal decoration once the building is open to the public early next year.

Merrion House is jointly owned by Town Centre Securities PLC and Leeds City Council. BAM Construction is delivering the development. Upon re-opening, Merrion House will form the main office base for the Council with all public-facing services under one roof.

Councillor Lisa Mulherin Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families said: “Projects like this are a fantastic way for children in our city to share their views and ideas in a creative way. The children we met on site were thrilled to see their beautiful artwork decorating the hoardings around the Merrion House refurbishment.”

Jo Davies, Co head teacher at Brudenell Primary School, said: “It was great to see a project designed by Town Centre Securities PLC, Child Friendly Leeds, and BAM Construction come to completion with the children's work being on display for all of Leeds to see. The children were so excited when they found their own individual pieces of art on the hoarding.”

You can now visit the artwork display on Woodhouse Lane, Leeds.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Town Centre Securities Plc (TCS) is a Leeds based property investment and development company with assets of approximately £375m. With more than 50 years’ experience, a commitment to sustainable development and a reputation for quality and innovation, TCS create mixed use developments close to transport hubs in major cities across the UK. Their current portfolio delivers an annual income of more than £26m.

The Merrion House project is a partnership between Leeds City Council and Town Centre Securities Plc that is being delivered by BAM Construction. The project commenced in January 2016 and is due for completion in December 2017.