Towering new office buildings approved for Sunderland's Vaux Site

This week, Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee discussed the plans which are part of the Riverside Sunderland development, a new urban quarter for the city.

The five and six-storey office spaces – both of which will stand behind City Hall with views across the river – will take centre stage in the council’s regeneration scheme.

The buildings can also be subdivided and let to multiple occupants, providing the potential to create thousands of jobs.

In a report to councillors, city planners said the scheme is set to make a “significant and positive contribution to townscape character and will become a significant development in the city.”

The report went on to say: “It is considered that the application proposal represents a key element of the continued development of Vaux and will bring significant economic benefits and substantial inward investment into the area, city centre and wider city region.

“Significant weight therefore is being given to the regeneration of this prominent vacant, brownfield site.”

The plans were unanimously backed at a planning meeting on November 20, which was held via videolink and broadcast on YouTube.

In response to a question from councillor James Doyle, planners clarified that the development would offer secure cycle parking and that a proposed ‘club room’ would serve as a “functioning events space.”

Separate plans for a multi-storey car park at Farringdon Row are expected to be brought forward in future to help serve the new offices.

At the meeting, Cllr Doyle raised concerns about “the potential strain that could be placed on the existing parking infrastructure” in the ‘interim period’ between the projects.

Planning officer Anthony Jukes said the new office buildings could be serviced by the existing car parks in the area, with parking being acceptable.

The report from planners added: “It [the development] is also considered to be a sustainable and accessible location, easily accessed via public transport, car, foot and bicycle, and it is noted that the development will be built to modern energy efficiency standards incorporating emerging efficiency measures and low carbon technologies.”

Riverside Sunderland’s masterplan includes a 33.2-hectare site across both sides of the River Wear with a range of new leisure, housing and office developments.

Work is set to begin on the first of the two office buildings in early 2021.

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