Plans for new Volvo car showroom in Sunderland - disused Southwick site would be home to 23 staff

In 2019, plans were lodged to redevelop a parcel of land at the junction of Riverside Road and Castletown Way, near Sainsbury’s.

The site was previously used for manufacturing, warehousing and offices prior to the buildings being demolished around six years ago.

Under new plans from Stoneacre Motor Group, the site could be transformed into a Volvo showroom with associated vehicle parking.

The scheme includes a two storey building with a workshop and office space and 119 parking spaces for sales, staff and customer vehicles.

Existing trees along Riverside Road and Castletown Way would also be retained as part of the development alongside additional landscaping, grassed areas and separate service and showroom entrances.

Sunderland City Council’s planning authority has recommended the scheme for approval and say the development is acceptable.

However, the final decision rests with the council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee which will consider the application on Friday, September 4.

According to planning documents, around 23 employees would be based at the site with a mix of sales roles, technicians, admin workers and valet staff.

A Design and Access statement submitted with the application also outlines the reasons behind the development.

It reads: “Stoneacre Motor Group and Volvo identified the Castletown area as an important location in their UK network plan in terms of area coverage [and] potential market demographic.

“The site is an ideal location to achieve their marketing and business objectives, providing suitable exposure in terms of passing traffic and visibility to potential customers.

“It will provide a high-quality motor retail environment, providing local employment and reinforcing the applicant’s commitment as a major contributor to the local economy, whilst respecting the needs of the local community within the immediate vicinity of the site.”

A decision on the plans will be made at next week’s planning meeting which will be held remotely and broadcast live on the council’s YouTube channel ‘sunderlandgov’.

The meeting starts at 2pm and can be viewed here: youtu.be/m-48k024eyw

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