Work to bring vacant land in Bristol city centre back to life through the production of organic produce grown by a community enterprise is due to begin this week.

The Severn Project has begun preparations for setting up a temporary urban farm on the former Diesel Depot site, near Bristol Temple Meads station, to produce 'carbon free' salad leaves for local businesses. The project, which provides employment and training support for people recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, aims to produce up to 250kg of goods each week using seven poly-tunnels and soil laid on a three-acre plot on the site.

This is the latest example of creative, innovative projects being brought to Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which owns six sites in the area and is working to develop long-term plans for its land to help bring thousands of new jobs to Bristol.

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This Enterprise Zone, which is being led by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Bristol City Council, aims to create 17,000 jobs in the creative and technology sectors over the next 25 years.

Severn Project founder Steve Glover said: "We will be using this site to produce enough salad leaves to serve our existing customers and wholesale markets in Bristol, and are looking to employ more people on the project as a result of this work. I have seen in my work on this project, and from my own experience, that the best way to beat dependence is to engage people in work.

"So this is a great opportunity for us to continue our work and give people who need support the chance to enter the employment market. We hope to be able to make a positive difference to the area, and the lives of people involved in the project."

The HCA has agreed to let the Severn Project use the site without charge for up to two years and provided £52,000 to support the provision and installation of the poly-tunnels and soil on its land. This will create at least two new jobs in Bristol and sustain the wider project, which employs five staff at sites in Keynsham and Whitchurch and supplies restaurants including The Glassboat in Bristol and the award-winning Pony and Trap, near Chew Magna.

(CD/GK)