Getting greenroof gardens

The town’s new Moorgate Business centre was one of the first developments in the UK to have a garden on the roof.

Now the roof – and its 8,000 plants – is being used to try to persuade more developers to turn to the new green technology.

The Green Roof Centre, founded by the University of Sheffield and Groundwork Sheffield, has chosen Moorgate Crofts as one of the key case studies on its website – www.thegreenroofcentre.co.uk.

In addition, a photograph of the unique business centre appears on the Green Roof Centre’s home page.

The pioneering roof was designed by Michela Griffith, team leader with Rotherham Council’s landscaping design department, with support from Sheffield University’s green roof expert Dr Nigel Dunnett.

It has already featured on two popular BBC TV programmes - Gardeners’ World and Working Lunch.

The 3.5m start-up business centre’s roof uses new technology pioneered in Europe, providing protection from ultra-violet radiation and insulation from temperature extremes, improving durability and reducing running costs.

“They improve urban drainage, reduce the need for air conditioning in the summer so there’s less CO2 emissions and have double the life span of a normal roof,” said Michela.