£15m retail destination planned for Silksworth

Exciting plans have been unveiled for a new £15m retail scheme in Sunderland that is set to create more than 100 new jobs.

Public consultation begins today 6 January 2026 on proposals for a new M&S Foodhall, Aldi and Starbucks Coffee drive-through on disused land at Silksworth Lane.

Local residents and stakeholders are being invited to review the plans and provide feedback, ahead of a formal planning submission by developer PRZM Real Estate, which is expected to go before the local authority's planning committee during the first half of 2026.

Proposals will see two retail units and a drive-through coffee shop constructed by GMI Construction Group PLC, on vacant land opposite Sainsbury's and The Range. 

If approved by Sunderland City Council, the scheme will see M&S open a new c.24,500 sq ft Foodhall -the retailer's second store in the city following the recent opening of its expanded store in Washington - standing alongside a c.20,500 sq ft Aldi and a c.1,800 sq ft drive-through Starbucks coffee shop.

The development will also provide a large customer car park, including parent and child and accessible bays, improved pedestrian links to nearby bus stops, and a new controlled pedestrian crossing on Silksworth Lane to improve accessibility and safety.

Matthew Anderson, Development Director at PRZM Real Estate, added: "We are pleased to bring forward these exciting proposals which will hopefully see another M&S open in Sunderland, and to commence our consultation with the local community.

"Alongside creating a new and desirable high-quality retail destination, the scheme represents a substantial investment of over £15m in Sunderland and will deliver significant benefits for local people both during construction and once the scheme opens."

Designed by SMR Architects, the proposals will create a modern, high-quality retail destination with sustainability at its core. Plans include extensive hard and soft landscaping to improve biodiversity and screen the development from neighbouring areas, alongside measures to manage surface water and reduce flood risk.

The investment is expected to improve retail choice in the city while delivering long-term economic benefits through new employment opportunities, jobs and opportunities for businesses within the local supply chain.

Councillor Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for Housing, Regeneration and Business at Sunderland City Council, said: "We know that many residents will be delighted to hear that M&S plans to open another store in Sunderland, building on the success of its Washington store which was expanded last year. Complemented by a new Aldi and a Starbucks, this new offer will enhance the retail provision in the local area and serve new communities that have taken shape in Sunderland South where thousands of homes have been built in recent years, allowing residents to enjoy greater choice when it comes to where they shop."

The public consultation is being managed by planning and development consultancy Lichfields. Full details of the proposals can be viewed at www.silksworthlane.co.uk, where feedback can be submitted until Monday 12^th January 2026.

Ollie Clements, a planner at Lichfields leading the consultation, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to enhance food shopping choice in Sunderland. The proposals will bring a second M&S to the city, whilst delivering two high-quality supermarkets and a drive-through café in a convenient and sustainable location, supported by significant investment on landscaping, drainage and accessibility. The consultation is a vital step in the process, and we encourage local residents to look at the plans and tell us what they think, so their views can help to shape the planning application before it is submitted."