Development of Riverside Sunderland takes step forward as next stage of work signed off

Riverside Sunderland covers the former Vaux brewery site, neighbouring Farringdon Row, Galley’s Gill, Riverside Park and High Street West.

It also includes the Bonnersfield and Sheepfolds area on the north side of the river, where housing and mixed use development is proposed.

The Sunderland City Council-led scheme follows a huge £100million investment into the city centre from Legal & General last year.

Council bosses have said the regeneration project will boost employment, create new homes and double the resident population of the city centre.

In recent months, city leaders have been developing a ‘supplementary planning document’ (SPD) which sets out the principles and parameters for businesses, developers and housebuilders involved in the project.

Following a consultation on the SPD between June and July, council bosses have revised the document and given the green light to a new four-week consultation.

Key changes include reference to parking facilities at Farringdon Row, reference to a ‘health centre’ on the Vaux site and increased ‘dwelling numbers’ across several areas.

This includes an increase of 200 to 240 at Farringdon Row/Ayre’s Quay, 400 to 450 at Sheepfolds and 100 to 200 at Bonnersfield.

Cabinet member for Dynamic City, Cllr Rebecca Atkinson, updated councillors on Riverside Sunderland at a cabinet meeting on September 15, which was held via videolink and broadcast on YouTube.

“I think it’s really important that we see this piece of work in its entirety and how far reaching this will be for the city,” she said.

“It also shows our drive, our aspiration and our commitment that we’re going to make riverside a place where people can live, work and play.”

She added: “But also that it’s going to be a beacon of regeneration not only in the region but I think nationally as well.”

“We really need to applaud the officers who have managed to pull this out of the bag, especially during Covid when our resources have obviously been massively stretched.”

Several council bosses echoed these comments including cabinet member for Healthy City, Cllr Dr Geoff Walker.

“I know we have got commitment as cabinet members towards this kind of vision and its development on the riverside and I hope it gets the support from full council that it deserves and also giving the opportunity for the residents to realise the strength and identity of this vision of this new area of the city,” he said.

Council leader, Graeme Miller, added: “At the end of the day I think the Riverside Sunderland scheme as outlined clearly shows the commitment of the council to giving people what they need in the 21st century as a great city to live in in England.”

Riverside Sunderland aims to play a part in achieving the goals of the council’s City Plan in creating a ‘dynamic, healthy and vibrant city’.

A report to cabinet stated: “Over the next 10-15 years, it is intended that Sunderland City Council and partners will create a new urban quarter at the heart of the city, which will provide new homes and quality workspaces and attract new investors, residents, skilled workers, students and visitors.”

The project also aims to “drive economic growth, set new standards for sustainable development and promote wellbeing and inclusion.”

In practice, the SPD would serve as an up-to-date planning framework to guide the development in future years while setting out its context and objectives.

The document also makes reference to site constraints and opportunities, land use and development capacity, building heights and appearance, open space and accessibility and future planning application requirements.

The public consultation will be carried out in line with the council’s updated ‘statement of community involvement’ which includes temporary changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A council report goes on to say: “Any comments received during that time will be analysed and incorporated into the final version where appropriate.”

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