New pictures show how new Sunderland M&S Foodhall, Aldi and Starbucks will look as plans officially lodged

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has received an application for a large site off Silksworth Lane, near both Sainsbury’s and The Range and residential development in the Silksworth area.

Earlier this month (January, 2026) a £15 million retail scheme was announced for the disused parcel of land, with developers stating it would create more than 100 jobs in the city.

The proposed M&S Foodhall, if approved, would be the retailer’s second large store in the city following the recent opening of its expanded store in Washington and the closure of its High Street West base in Sunderland city centre back in 2024.

Developers behind the new Silksworth Lane retail scheme confirmed the development would provide a large customer car park, including parent and child and accessible bays, improved pedestrian links to bus stops and a new coew picntrolled pedestrian crossing at Silksworth Lane to improve accessibility and safety.

Plans are also expected to include landscaping to improve biodiversity and screen the development from neighbouring areas, alongside measures to manage surface water and reduce flood risk.

Local residents and stakeholders were invited to review the plans and provide feedback for the development, ahead of a formal planning submission by developer PRZM Real Estate.

A formal planning application was recently validated and went “live” on Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website, allowing members of the public to view designs and supporting documents and leave comments.

A planning statement submitted to council officials notes that the vehicular access into the retail scheme would be taken from the existing Silksworth Lane roundabout near Sainsbury’s, with a “new easterly arm created from the existing roundabout into the site to provide a modern purpose designed and built vehicular access”.

The proposed units listed in the planning statement include a 2,281 sqm Marks and Spencer Foodhall, a 1,856 sqm “discount supermarket” and a 171sqm “drive-thru café unit” accessed via a “new roundabout spur off Silksworth Lane” with an associated “pedestrian crossing point […] to allow footpath users to safely cross”.

It was noted that pedestrian access into the site would be “taken further to the south, with two new connections to the existing footpath along Silksworth Lane”, with the first “connecting to the Starbucks and the second further south connecting to the Aldi and M&S”.

Proposed parking for the site, outlined in the supporting document, included 238 standard parking spaces,15 parent and child spaces, one accessible EV charging space, seven EV charging spaces, 15 accessible spaces and a “comprehensive scheme of hard and soft landscaping”.

The planning statement said the proposals would “not have any significant impact upon the vitality and viability of existing centres, in terms of consumer choice and trade/turnover”.

Those behind the scheme noted the development would “create a high-quality retail destination, which would enhance the retail and food and drink provision in the Silksworth area”, along with “improved access to jobs for local people and enhanced consumer choice for residents”.

The planning statement also said “detailed traffic modelling has been undertaken of the junctions across the local highway network where the forecast development-generated traffic impact exceeds 30 two-way peak hour trips”.

It was argued that “the development-generated traffic flows are forecast to be accommodated within the existing layout of the highway network” and that “there are considered to be no reasonable highway grounds for refusal of the planning application”.

On the proposed loss of trees, which would be “limited to those requiring removal to facilitate construction”, developers confirmed “the trees to be lost would be appropriately compensated for through new on-site planting”, along with “tree protection measures in place during construction”.

On the issue of ecology, developers said that “the land to the north, which is currently unmanaged, would be enhanced through the implementation of a comprehensive landscape strategy and public access would not be provided into this area”.

This aims to “provide biodiversity benefits and a landscape buffer around western, eastern and southern boundaries [which] would ensure the northern area is connected to the wider [wildlife] corridor to the south of the site”.

The planning statement adds: “The proposed development represents a significant investment into Sunderland of over £15 million.

“In this context, the proposed new M&S and Aldi foodstores and Starbucks café-drive thru will provide a source of employment for the surrounding areas, both during construction and operations phases of the development.

“Development would create 125 temporary direct full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, and 150 indirect FTE jobs throughout the construction phase [and] 150 permanent direct FTE jobs, and 55 indirect and induced FTE jobs across the wider supply chain once operational.

“Based on information from M&S, it is estimated that the new food hall would have an in-store wage bill of over £1.2 million per annum, with staff being drawn from their local community.

“In the context of the above, it is clear that the proposed development would have a significant positive impact in economic terms.”

A design and access statement also submitted to council planning officials described the planned “anchor tenants” as “well-established, high-quality international brands”, which would “generate consistent footfall and attract a broad customer base”.

It was noted that the mix of retailers had also been “carefully selected to provide everyday convenience, offering a balance of value, quality and hospitality, which will serve the needs of both residents and passing trade.”

Councillor Kevin Johnston, Sunderland City Council’s cabinet member for housing, regeneration and business, speaking earlier in January, 2026, said plans for a new M&S on Wearside would “build on the success” of the retailer’s expanded Washington store.

“Complemented by a new Aldi and a Starbucks, this new offer will enhance the retail provision in the local area and serve new communities that have taken shape in Sunderland South where thousands of homes have been built in recent years, allowing residents to enjoy greater choice when it comes to where they shop,” Cllr Johnston added.

A decision on the planning application is expected following a council consultation exercise.

Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website lists a decision deadline of April 21, 2026.

For more information on the plan, or to track its progress, visit the council’s planning portal website and search reference: 26/00144/FU4