Seafront shelters and toilet blocks to be transformed as council seeks businesses to take on premises

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Sunderland City Council has commissioned images of what they could look like as leisure venues as they search for people to take on two shelters and a toilet block.

They include the Roker Shelter on Marine Walk, which has been added to the list of little-used buildings it wants to bring back into use.

It joins the former Seaburn Tram Shelter, a disused council equipment store at Seaburn and a former toilet block in Pier View, Roker, which are already on track for a new lease of life.

How the toilet block in Pier View looks now and how it could look as a cafe or restaurant.

Cake trailer set to satisfy your sweet tooth on the Seaburn seafront this summer

That is thanks to a £820,000 Coastal Communities Fund grant, matched with £440,000 council investment to create new spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy all year-round.

These could include cafes and restaurants, although the opportunity to develop the former Tram Shelter isn’t part of the initial offer.

Council leader Councillor Graeme Miller said: “The plans for heritage buildings on the seaside promenade will add an exciting new dimension to Sunderland’s seaside offer, and we would particularly like to see local businesses trade from the fantastic new spaces this programme of restoration will create."

This image, commissioned by Sunderland City Council, shows what the shelter at Seaburn could look like if it was redeveloped.

Income generated from the lease and operation of the redeveloped storage shelter and toilet block, and in the next phase, the former tram shelter, will support the Sunderland Seafront Trust, which operates the Roker Pier and Lighthouse tours and will run a broad range of events and activities.

The council is also developing plans for 12 beach huts just north of House of Zen, with upgrades to be made to the infrastructure of Seaburn Camp, making it more accessible to caravans.

They will join STACK food and entertainment development, due to open for the August Bank Holiday, and the new Inn Collection Group venue, the Seaburn Inn, expected to open early next year.

An artist's impression of how the former toilet block on Pier View could look if it was turned into a cafe or restaurant.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Roker Shelter can contact Joseph I'Anson on (0191) 383 9999 or email [email protected] and anyone interested in the old toilet block in Pier View and the former equipment store at Seaburn can contact Mario Jaconelli on (0191) 565 8844 or email [email protected].

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