Plans in for new Sunderland city centre road linking Blandford Street, Brougham Street and Maritime Terrace

Sunderland City Council has submitted an application to its own planning department for a new road linking the west end of Blandford Street, Brougham Street and Maritime Terrace.

The proposed road would be created through the site of the former Peacocks store, which was destroyed by a fire in 2019.

New plans, which were validated by council planners on February 17, 2022, aim to improve public transport infrastructure and connectivity in the area while also enhancing highway safety and accessibility for highway users.

If approved, the plans would facilitate a gyratory system turning traffic from Holmeside onto Maritime Street and using the new road link, through to Brougham Street and Waterloo Place.

This would create a one-way clockwise gyratory system returning traffic to Holmeside in an easterly direction.

It is hoped the plans will improve the public realm near Sunderland Rail Station while also improving links to taxi ranks and a proposed multi-storey car park on Holmeside.

A planning statement submitted with the council’s planning application states the new road would not have a “detrimental effect” on the existing transport network and would offer a “significant improvement to pedestrian safety.”

It goes on to say:“The impact of traffic growth on the highway network in the vicinity of the development has been reviewed and it has been found that the proposal would not cause an adverse impact.”

Councillor Claire Rowntree, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council and cabinet member for environment and transport, outlined the benefits of the scheme in a statement last year.

Speaking in December 2021, Cllr Rowntree said: “These proposals have been designed to increase accessibility and safety, while making improvements to the landscape and public realm around the new Sunderland Station.

“Improving pedestrian connectivity will also encourage the use of sustainable transport to reduce carbon emissions and help us on our way to making Sunderland a carbon neutral city by 2040.”

A planning decision on the road link is expected to be made by mid-April, 2022.

For more information on the planning application or to track its progress, visit Sunderland City Council’s online planning portal and search reference: 22/00161/LP3

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