Planning application for new Glassworks facility in Sunderland to be submitted
The application comes in the same month as Sunderland is set to lose its National Glass Centre.
Plans for a new glassmaking facility in Sunderland are to take a step closer with the submission of the planning application.
Next week, Sunderland City Council’s planning department will receive an application to transform the former Peter Smith Antiques building in Borough Road, Sunniside, into Glassworks: Sunderland.
It’s being submitted by Sunderland Culture who announced their intentions for the old warehouse in January 2025 and have since been consulting with designers, artists, makers and creative businesses.
If approved, and subject to additional funding to an existing £5m grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Cultural Development Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England, the facility would provide new specialist facilities, workspaces, learning opportunities and business support for glassmakers and creative enterprises.
Glassworks, which is a glassmaking facility, as opposed to a big visitor attraction, would be scheduled to open in 2028, but its planning comes at a time when Sunderland is set to lose its dedicated glassmaking and visitor site, National Glass Centre.
More than 46,000 people have signed a petition to save the NGC on the banks of the Wear, but as it stands it will close on July 31, 2026.
The fight continues with the site to be added to SAVE Britain's Heritage buildings at risk register and many questioning the decision to close the centre by its owners, University of Sunderland, who have cited repair costs for the decision for its proposed demolition.
Earlier this year, the NGC concept architect, Andy Gollifer, joined campaigners to question the costs with the campaign group previously referring to Glassworks as a ‘poor substitute’ to the existing National Glass Centre.
Glassworks comes at a time when Sunniside is undergoing a wave of regeneration, including new hospitality and arts venue, new housing and the home of Esports Campus at The Place.
“Securing future of glassmaking in the city”
Glassmaking, both artistically and industrially, has been practiced in Sunderland for 1,350 years.
Tom Billington, Chair of Sunderland Culture, who have submitted the application, explained: “The submission of our application is a significant milestone for Glassworks: Sunderland and for the ongoing transformation of Sunniside.
“It’s important to stress that local, regional and national artists, makers and creative businesses have played a central role in shaping these proposals through workshops, site visits and surveys. Their involvement has helped ensure the project responds directly to the needs of Sunderland’s creative community while building on the city’s internationally recognised glassmaking heritage.
“The progress made to date is hugely encouraging and demonstrates the ambition, partnership and commitment that exists to make this vision for glassmaking a reality.”
Sunderland-based Glass Artist Helen Gordon said: “The plans for Glassworks are well considered. They include the vital specialist equipment that glass artists like me need to continue producing work and upholding Sunderland’s global reputation for contemporary glass.
“By providing a sustainable home for glass and ceramic artists, the facility will help safeguard specialist skills, support local creative industries, and ensure that Sunderland remains a leading centre for contemporary glass for future generations.”
Glass artist and lecturer Colin Rennie, also based in Sunderland, added: “As a practicing glass artist, I strongly support Glassworks and believe it offers the most viable and credible route to securing the future of glass in Sunderland.
“A facility shaped with direct input from experienced makers is far more likely to succeed because it is being designed around real practice, real skills, and real need.”
News of the planning application came at a full Sunderland City Council meeting last Wednesday (June 24).
Coun Ciera Hudspith, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Heritage, gave a Glassworks: Sunderland update to councillors.
She said: “The council has continued to work with Sunderland Culture to seek to secure the future of glassmaking within the city. It was positive to hear at my first Sunderland Culture board meeting about the progress which has been made on the Glassworks proposal.
“This builds on the funding the council has secured from the mayoral strategic authority for enabling works at the former Peter Smith Antiques building that are currently underway.
Sunderland Culture has led engagement with glassmakers, sharing initial plans, developing them further and worked in close conjunction with the makers to ensure they are informed by specialist knowledge and experience.”
“The council is keen to secure the funding of glassmaking in the city, welcomes the active engagement of glassmakers in shaping the proposals for Glassworks and recognises the work of Sunderland Culture, who together with a range of key partners seek to secure a future for this important part of the city’s heritage.”
Sunderland Culture is leading fundraising to secure match funding to realise the project which is scheduled to open in 2028.