A COUNCIL hopes to cover up an “ugly” wall in the town centre with more than 850 living plants.

Colchester Council plans to create a “living wall” over the side of Papa John’s pizza restaurant at the bottom of North Hill in Colchester.

A living wall, or green wall, is a panel of plants grown vertically on structures which can be either free-standing or attached to walls.

The idea is they can turn urban spaces back into something natural and can improve air quality.

As part of the council’s plans to turn the area into a conservation area, the “ugly side wall” at the junction of St Peter’s Street and Middleborough will be covered.

The planning application said: “Over 850 plants will be required to populate the proposed living wall.

“Varieties will include herbaceous grasses, ferns, herbs, ground cover and small shrubs.

“Plant species will be 90 per cent evergreen to provide year-round coverage.”

An automated irrigation system will be monitored to make sure there is enough water for the plants.

Health check visits will take place every eight weeks to monitor the condition and health of the plants.

The living wall will be mechanically attached to a rail structure.

Becoming a conservation area would mean the area and its historic listed buildings would be protected from future development.

The proposed area will be along North Station Road between Middleborough and the Albert roundabout.

The protection will cover Belle Vue Road, the northern end of North Station Road, Digby House and the riverside area on the way to Castle Park.

Other works include encouraging Kwik Fit in North Station Road to enclose its open parking area, serving a discontinuance notice to remove the three poster panel hoardings and asking highways authorities to amend the “massive” road sign towards the Colne Bank Avenue and Cowdray Avenue roundabout.

There are also generic objectives to improve shopfronts and reduce excessive shop signage.

More than £10,000 will be spent on refurbishing the Avenue of Remembrance First World War memorial.

The memorial is at the junction of Colne Bank Avenue and North Station Road.