Sunderland is one of the world's "most intelligent" places.

The city is one of only seven across the globe that has been nominated for a prestigious international award.

Alongside the likes of Victoria in Australia and Yokosuka in Japan, Sunderland has been recognised for its remarkable economic turnaround during the past 15 years.

In 1991, the city was ranked in the bottom 10 per cent of "depressed districts" after the closure of the coal mines and shipyards.

Unemployment had peaked at 30 per cent.

Today, thanks to developments like Doxford Park – which is now home to 8,000 workers and a range of blue chip companies – Sunderland is at the forefront of developing new technology.

Nominated by USA-based World Teleport Association, it has been chosen for the Intelligent City Award competition because of its unprecedented success in emerging from the demise of heavy industry and establishing itself as a world leader in IT technological advancement.

Ongoing work on the new e-business park at Rainton Bridge South is expected to only further enhance the city's reputation in the field.

On completion, the facility will be one of the best connected business parks in the world and likely to create 4,000 new jobs.

Ged Fitzgerald, chief executive of Sunderland Council, said: "This international award declares to the rest of the world that this is not only a good pace to do business, it's an exciting, thrusting, forward-looking and happening place."

In the past decade, developments like Sunderland Enterprise Park have helped to create 4,000 jobs, while the ground-breaking Business Innovation Centre has established a base for a string of IT-based companies.

In announcing its nominations, the World Teleport Association announced: "Among intelligent communities, Sunderland stands out for the comprehensive nature of its transformation and continuing commitment to its vision."

The other six cities nominated are, Taipei in Taiwan, Glasgow in Scotland, Victoria in Australia, Yokosuka in Japan, Spokane in Washington U.S. and Western Valley in Nova Scotia, Canada.



Tops for housing

SUNDERLAND is fast becoming the place to be for house-buyers, property experts said today.

Reports say the city is starting to draw buyers from previously more popular parts of the North East such as Newcastle and North Tyneside.

The regeneration of the city centre is one of the main attractions, says estate agents Halifax, which expects growth to continue.

"Overall, prices are affordable and properties are selling within a reasonable time," a spokesman said.
"Over the next few months we expect prices to rise but anticipate the top end of the market is likely to harden."

Figures from the Halifax show prices in the North have risen more than anywhere else in the UK over the past year, and have gone up 100 per cent over three years.

And market analysts for Your Mortgage magazine expect prices in some areas, including Sunderland and Durham, to rocket by 24 per cent in the next few years.

The average house price in Sunderland is now about £130,000.

Demand is outstripping supply and stocks of properties have fallen by 16 per cent in a year.

Estate agents say Sunderland is still a good area for first-time buyers, but bargains – especially for private landlords – are few and far between.