Plans approved for restaurant or cafe in former Sunderland WHSmith building

The high street giant closed its Market Square site in December 2015 citing viability issues and the expiry of its lease.

Although discount retailers have set up shop in the building over the years, several of its units are currently sitting empty.

According to planning documents, the former WHSmith site has been marketed without success for several years.

In March 2020, plans were lodged with Sunderland City Council’s planning department to convert the vacant units from a retail use site to a cafe/restaurant with a hot food takeaway.

The bid from Glendine Developments Ltd covered 18-20 Market Square, excluding the space occupied in the building by entertainment retailer CeX.

Indicative plans show two seating areas across two floors alongside bar and kitchen space.

Developers later amended the scheme, removing the takeaway use as it clashed with a council policy aiming to tackle obesity levels by preventing hot food takeaways in primary centres.

Following consultation, Sunderland City Council’s planning authority approved the restaurant/cafe bid on Friday, June 12.

A decision report reads: “Although the former WHSmith unit is identified as primary frontage the unit has been vacant for more than three years and is not contributing to the vitality and viability of the city centre.

“With no interest from retailers, given the national retailers want to be in the Bridges Shopping Centre, the applicant is seeking an A3 use with ancillary A5 to attract a restaurant / cafe.

“As such it is considered the proposed change will improve Market Square, bring a vacant unit back into use, and support the evening economy.”

Despite the planning approval, no operator is named in the planning documents for the proposed restaurant or cafe.

Under planning rules, the development must be brought forward within the next three years.

Opening hours would also be restricted between Monday to Saturday, 8am-midnight and 10am-11pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

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