New details of £28m 'substantial plans' to improve Sunderland Railway Station

A £28m proposed revamp would include a modern new entrance and southern concourse, above platform level, and a 500-vehicle car park.

Sunderland City Council’s cabinet is expected to approve the idea as part of its capital programme with further details and designs likely to be revealed in the new year.

The authority would provide £4,362,000 of the cash with another £20,157,000 expected to be added by the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Councillor Graeme Miller, the leader of the council, said the scheme sends out a message that Sunderland is serious about transforming the city centre.

He said: “The train station is a real priority and we are determined to move forward with plans to reimagine this gateway into Sunderland.

“We have substantial plans to transform the station and we’re really excited to share these with residents in the new year.

“With budget set to be committed, the council team will move ahead with finalising designs, which we’re really looking forward to sharing in spring.

"Already, advanced works around site investigations are underway, so we should be able to move this on with pace, in line with other significant investment projects that are rapidly advancing across Sunderland’s city centre.”

The city council is leading a programme of regeneration across the city, starting with Riverside Sunderland, which covers a 33.2 hectare site across both sides of the water and is described as "the most exciting regeneration site in Britain”.

This aims to create 1,000 new homes, up to 10,000 jobs and new bridges across the River Wear by 2030.

Its work includes The Beam, where 300 jobs have been created on the former Vaux brewery site by online grocery giant Ocado, and the nearby City Hall, which is expected to be complete by autumn next year.

Cllr Miller added: “As we grow the number of people living and working in the city, we will be working to enhance the transport infrastructure we have in the city centre, and the station is naturally a key priority

for us.

“The investment programme we are leading in the city centre is unprecedented and it will be truly game-changing for Sunderland, accelerating our transformation into a modern, vibrant city of real worth.”

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