Next steps confirmed for multi-million pound transformation for Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Senior councillors on Wearside have approved next steps for a multi-million pound plan to transform Sunderland’s Museum and Winter Gardens.
The cultural institution was the focus of Sunderland City Council’s latest cabinet meeting on Thursday (November 13, 2025) to progress redevelopment plans following a major funding award earlier this year.
This included a successful bid of £5.2 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, supporting an estimated £13.6 million, four-year project to permanently transform the museum.
The plans, which were initially discussed by councillors at an Economic Prosperity Scrutiny Committee meeting back in January, 2025, and later granted planning approval by the council’s Planning and Highways Committee over the summer, include a raft of changes.
This includes the relocation of the site’s main entrance into Mowbray Park, new exhibition galleries and displays, brand new touch-down and social spaces, as well as improvements to the winter gardens, external landscaping and the public realm.
There will also be the creation of a new community learning facility, ‘The Growing Space’, in the space currently occupied by the museum shop that will complement the community garden adjacent to the winter gardens.
At a cabinet meeting this week, senior councillors approved an additional £1.4 million of capital funding on top of the funding already committed for the redevelopment by the city council, Arts Council England and the Friends of Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, should this be required.
The outcome of a further funding application to the Wolfson Foundation is also expected to be confirmed in December, 2025.
Councillor Beth Jones, cabinet member for communities, culture and tourism at Sunderland City Council, in a statement, said it was “incredibly exciting to be moving a step nearer the delivery phase of our much-loved museum’s transformation”.
“Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens has long been favourite with generations of families across our city, as well as attracting thousands of visitors from further afield,” Cllr Jones said.
“These all-important next steps will allow us to press ahead with the exciting four-year redevelopment of the museum next year (2026).
“This investment will ensure that the building and its historic and accredited collection is conserved and protected so it can be enjoyed by future generations.
“Alongside our investment in Culture House, it will enhance our creative and cultural offer attracting more visitors and contributing to our city’s economic regeneration and growth.”
A report to cabinet said that not progressing the project would result in external funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and othersources that have been secured by the council “not being invested in the city” and would “severely limit the improvements which could be made” to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.
Senior councillors agreed to a number of recommendations, including noting the progress to date on the regeneration scheme, as well as approving “funding arrangements” and the “resultant variation to the capital programme” and authorising senior council officers to make key decisions to progress the development in future.
This includes “procuring and awarding contracts for the relevant works and services required to deliver the project” and “subject to sufficient funding being available […] approving any subsequent variations to any of the contracts for works and services awarded to deliver the project as may be required.”
Cllr Beth Jones, Labour cabinet member for communities, culture and tourism, told the cabinet meeting the scheme was “a major achievement” and thanked “all of the [council] officers for their hard work, diligence and resilience in getting the funding and the project over the line.”
Councillor Michael Mordey, Labour leader of Sunderland City Council, welcomed the report for the Museum and Winter Gardens, which also sits within the Hendon ward he represents.
“I would echo [Cllr Jones], a lot of hard work has gone into preparing these bids so I’m grateful for that,” Cllr Mordey added.
“I know the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is a city-wide asset but it is within the best ward in the city which is the Hendon ward.
“So I’m delighted to see this investment coming into Hendon ward for the benefit of the city and I look forward to seeing the redevelopment work when it’s complete.
“The Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is at the heart of our cultural offer in the city centre and is going to be matched early next year by the opening of Culture House which again will add another significant cultural destination to the landscape of the city centre.
“It just shows that this council and this Labour Party in Sunderland puts culture at the heart of what we do to benefit the city and I look forward to seeing it.
“As long as we protect Wallace I will be happy because he is a cultural icon of the city so hopefully he will have a prominent place in the redevelopment of the museum.”