The Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, London, is to receive a new roof garden paid for by carrier bags.

Environmental charity Groundwork’s Hammersmith London Roof Garden is one of the first five ‘greener living spaces’ schemes to be funded in part by £25,000 raised from the Marks & Spencer (M&S) carrier bag charge.

In May this year, M&S introduced a 5p carrier bag charge and profits from the initiative will go towards Groundwork to invest in other ‘greener living spaces’ projects, including schemes in Scarborough, Nottingham, Wigan and Edinburgh.

The Lyric project will see the one of the city’s biggest theatres receive a green roof garden terrace with seating, planting, lighting and a bespoke pergola structure.

Jesssica Hepburn, chief executive of the Lyric Hammersmith, said: “It’s fantastic to be working with an inspirational company like Groundwork to transform our outdoor terrace into an iconic, oxygen-giving sea of green in the concrete jungle of central Hammersmith.”

Additional funding (£150,000) for the project is coming from the Hammersmith Business Improvement District, a local partnership company.

The work is expected to be completed by the autumn.