Future Sunderland

Sunderland. A regional city, on the river by the sea and to many a place they never visit, negative opinions have been formed despite this. To many others it’s home, a friendly city that has been neglected for too many years. Lost industries that once bustled along the River Wear replaced with out of town business parks and little to no investment in the city centre, riverside & coast was to be seen. Tesco’s, scale models & dreadful plans passed by.

But In 2012 Sunderland Music Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust was formed bringing with them ambition to change the cultural scene in the city. With arts and culture you can inspire people and maybe they just did, a few years later Riverside Sunderland came up with a masterplan, one that involves getting people working & living in the city centre, improving footfall, creating a busy night time economy & thus encouraging businesses to open their venues here in Sunderland. Other Restoration works to old buildings have included Mackie’s Corner, The Peacock, 172-175 High Street West (Pop Recs), The Elephant Tea Rooms & The 3 Stories at the former JJB Sports building. 

Now in 2024 we have already seen huge changes. The Fire Station and Auditorium are welcoming 1000s every week in an area of the city that is now a go to destination. A smart new business district is currently rising from the ground. City Hall, completed in 2021. The Beam completed in 2019 with Maker & Faber buildings due for completion this year. New homes and apartment buildings are being built next door and a new Wear footbridge will connect the South and North banks of the river in the very near future, bringing Culture House, Holiday Inn and the Sheepfolds developments all within a short walk from one another.

And that thing about encouraging businesses into the city? The Botanist arrived at Keel Square in 2024, and now the ambitious film studios at Crown Works are due to start later this year. The plan really does work and it’s only just the beginning.