Opposition councillors say Labour's bid to save Sunderland's National Glass Centre 'may well be too late'

A motion was put forward to the latest full council meeting, signed by 15 Labour councillors, calling on the University of Sunderland to “immediately halt its planned closure and demolition” of the NGC.

It was unanimously approved and asks the university to work with Sunderland City Council and partners “to review the decision with a view to exploring alternative options”.

Opposition councillors criticised Labour for the time it took them to come to this position.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Heather Fagan said: “It’s difficult not to see it as an attempt to regain public favour and it may well be too late.”

Conservative group leader Councillor Antony Mullen added: “Had Labour been on board more quickly we’d have had more time to work out a plan for the long-term survival of the NGC.”

Labour’s Councillor Phil Tye, who proposed the motion, said they initially “believed the information” put forward by the university before being introduced to the save the NGC campaign group through Councillor Denny Wilson.

Cllr Tye added: “I’ll look every single campaigner in the eye and say from the bottom of my heart I’m sorry that we didn’t do it quicker, but I’d prefer to do it now than not at all.”

The Labour motion stated the council “condemns the University of Sunderland’s decision to close the NGC and believes the proposal is flawed”.

It adds the council “believes cost proposals set out to remedy some defects with the building and the supplied running costs are presented in a way to deceive the council and its residents”.

A University of Sunderland spokesman said: “While acknowledging the motion passed by Sunderland City Council, the university’s position regarding the future of the NGC building remains unchanged.

“It is now three years since the university first announced the closure of the NGC, and despite open and transparent conversations with individuals and organisations, including Sunderland City Council, no feasible plan has emerged to meet the financial requirement for capital works or the £800,000 annual subsidy currently funded by the university.

“As we have reiterated throughout this process, nearly 90% of our income comes from student tuition fees, and we must prioritise teaching, research, and knowledge exchange.

“It is important to note that while acknowledging the meeting’s outcome, the university strongly objects to the highly offensive use of the word ‘deceived’ within the council’s motion.

“At no stage has the university misled the council or the public; all financial information, Freedom of Information requests, and cost estimates have been consistently and honestly shared.

“The NGC will close to the public on 31 July, 2026.”

The council motion will also see the authority write to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to ask for further funding to save the NGC.

A Liberal Democrat amendment proposed also asking the DCMS for funds earmarked for the former Peter Smiths antiques building – the planned home of replacement hub Glassworks Sunderland – to be reallocated to the cause.

This was rejected, however, with Cllr Tye arguing the funding has been allocated to Sunderland Culture, which would run Glassworks, and the hub provides a “plan b” should their efforts fail.