Here’s some of the big developments and new openings set to help change the face of Sunniside and better connect it to the city centre.
5. The Friends Meeting Place
Work is very nearing completion on the transformation of the former tyre shop on the corner of Villiers Street and High Street West. Led by the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, the regeneration of the building has been supported by funding from Historic England, who have committed £923,208 along with significant investment from the Quakers. Upstairs will be a place of worship for Sunderland Quakers, along with community space for hire. The two restored ground floor shop units will house Under The Ivy flower shop and Space coffee shop. | Sunderland Echo
6. Space coffee shop and events space
After great success supporting men's mental health with his mobile coffee van and events, James Fildes is bringing Space coffee shop to the ground floor of The Friends Meeting Place. By day, it will be a quality coffee shop, with profits going back into supporting men's mental health. By night, it will host talks from a diverse range of speakers, quiz nights and more. It opens this November. Pictured from left: Jamie Lister, outreach and engagement coordinator at Space, James Fildes, founder of Space, and Matt Moore from Sunderland Quakers | Sunderland Echo
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7. Glassworks Sunderland
A planning application has been made for Glassworks at the former Peter Smith Antiques warehouse in Borough Road. Glassworks, which is a glassmaking facility, as opposed to a big visitor attraction, would be scheduled to open in 2028. Operators Sunderland Culture say Glassworks is not a replacement for National Glass Centre, which closed in July, but is a bid to retain glassmaking in the city, a skill that dates back 1,350 years on Wearside. Remedial works are currently taking place at the warehouse to prepare it for development. | PB Imaging and xsite architecture LLP
8. Harbour Studios, Biscop House
New studios are set to become a creative hub for Sunderland makers and the wider community when it transforms underutilised space in Sunniside. Plans are underway to bring Harbour Studios to Biscop House on the corner of Villiers Street, which will feature artist studios, community space as well as a coffee shop and art shop due to open in spring 2027. While the upstairs of Biscop House houses apartments, the large ground floor commercial unit has been empty for some time. Harbour started life as a screen printing project in Port coffee shop in John Street and soon evolved into a wider creative venture. Harbour Studios is being brought to Sunderland by directors of the CIC: Gerard Purvis, of Port; Michaela Wetherell, founder of Pink-Collar Gallery; lecturer Nora Nadvegi and glass and ceramic artists, Tom Jordan and Annie James. | Sunderland Echo