Watch this stunning drone footage which captures the transformation of Sunderland’s city centre

The incredible footage, which shows The Beam, City Hall and the nearby Keel Square Hotel, documents how the site is expanding the footprint of Sunderland city centre.

For some Wearside residents who have been away from the city centre during lockdown, the images will give a taste of all the changes that they will see upon their return to the heart of Sunderland as restrictions continue to ease.

The video has been shared on social media by @InvestSundUK, shining a light on the scale of change in the city, as the council-led Riverside Sunderland delivery plan moves forward.

Further work is expected to start soon on a number of schemes across Riverside Sunderland, including a new footbridge connecting the former Vaux site to the Stadium of Light and Sheepfolds industrial estate, as well as the first of two Legal & General-backed office buildings and a new multi-storey car park.

When speaking about the footage, Councillor Graeme Miller leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “The views this video shows are absolutely breath-taking – it shows parts of the city that many people who live, work and play here will never have seen before; assets like our riverside, an unpolished gem that we intend to help shine like never before over the coming months and years.

“The city centre is absolutely transforming, and I am determined that Riverside Sunderland is the catalyst for the wider regeneration of the heart of Sunderland.

"Thousands of people will work at Riverside Sunderland, and hundreds more will call it home within the next few years. The rate of change is rapid and the impact it will have on the wider city centre footprint will be unprecedented.

“Anyone looking at this footage who has doubted our commitment to transforming the city centre will see just how quickly and significantly it is changing.

"It’s happening fast and we’re immensely proud of the world-class location we’re creating in the heart of the city, as well as programmes that are delivering similar change elsewhere in Sunderland – from Seaburn to Washington.”

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