Sunderland City Council reveals £134million 'new start' investments for city

The proposed ‘new starts’ will be examined at the council’s cabinet meeting next week on Tuesday, February 8, at City Hall.

This includes plans to develop a business case for a multi-million pound arena at the former Crowtree Leisure Centre site.

If approved, the new investments will increase the council’s capital investment programme to more than £627million over the next four years.

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Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Cities can no longer rely on shopping attractions alone.

“We have to create a richer mix of attractions and activities and we are looking to this with a city centre arena.

“As part of a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant smart city, an arena complementing the Empire Theatre, the new Auditorium, and our new Culture House, can become a major venue of choice and destination for residents and visitors.

“This could be a mixed-use venue for music, sporting and cultural events, and have capacity for perhaps 5,000 to 10,000 people.

“Our city centre is an ideal location for such a development, it could feature restaurants and a food hall, retail and new public spaces, and become a major attraction and feature for Sunderland and the wider North East region.”

Subject to further decision-making, the council is looking at investing £82.157million into the ‘City of Sunderland Arena’ project that it would then recoup through arrangements with an arena operator.

Further details will be brought forward to future cabinet meetings, subject to the council’s budget process.

Other new starts proposed for the council’s capital budget include:

:: £24million for the ongoing regeneration of the Sunniside district (Nile and Villiers Street).

:: £4.5 million of updates and improvements to city parks.

:: £2.6million of further investment for the South Hylton Day Centre project.

:: £1.4million for the Elemore Green Space and Social Enterprise development in Hetton.

:: £6.5million for a replacement Coalfields Depot and provision of a Salt Barn.

:: £200,000 for the refurbishment of Arts Centre Washington.

:: £250,000 of improvements to the Raich Carter Centre.

:: £500,000 earmarked to “modernise” Houghton and Washington libraries.

Council leader Cllr Miller added: “As capital spending these long-term investments are very different from day-to-day spending on services.

“These investments are about improving our city’s assets and infrastructure and making us fitter for the 21st century.”

The capital new starts are in addition to several investments already agreed and/or under way across the city.

These include the new high-level pedestrian and cycle bridge at Riverside Sunderland, the Culture House at Keel Square, the Vaux Housing and Future Living Expo and investment at Northern Spire Park to develop the site for housing.

Further investment has also been provided for supported living for adults and for those facing homelessness, as well as investment into the redevelopment of Sunderland’s central railway station, city cycling networks, schools and allotments/open spaces.

Funding has also been allocated for a new Housing, Innovation, Construction and Skills Academy to develop skills for residents in modern methods of construction.

Further development at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, social care facilities, the Port of Sunderland, highways works, assistive technology and supporting the introduction of 5G technology are also being progressed.

More details on investments are in the budget report, which will be discussed by city leaders next week at City Hall.

Service and revenue spending, including proposals for council tax in 2022/23, will also be examined at the cabinet meeting.

The council’s final budget meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

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