Eye Hospital building comes into focus

Residents are starting to get a better glimpse of how Sunderland's new Eye Hospital will look, as work progresses on the final external works of this new city centre building.

Scaffolding that is currently concealing the building's shell has started to be removed from the distinctive building, giving passers by the chance to see the building's exterior for the first time. As the development closes in on completion - due for Spring 2026 - work will now ramp up on the hospital's interior, and ground works will begin on the surrounding landscape next month.

Contractor Kier, instructed by developer Sunderland City Council, will move its focus onto the Eye Hospital's internal fit-out, paving the way for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust to take possession of the building and get it ready to welcome its first patients in Summer 2026. 

Councillor Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for Housing, Regeneration and Business at Sunderland City Council, said: "As the scaffolding is removed from the Eye Hospital, residents and visitors to the city will begin to get a sense of how this important new building will look when it is complete.

"The whole skyline in Riverside Sunderland is transformed, with Maker & Faber now complete, Vaux Housing progressing rapidly, Culture House closing in on completion, and - of course - our stunning new Keel Crossing bringing both sides of the river together. The scale and rate of change is phenomenal, and it will be great to see - for the first time - this nationally renowned facility, an Eye Hospital that will deliver often life-changing care to people from across the country."

Ken Bremner MBE is Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: "We are very excited for the big reveal and are looking forward to people seeing what it will look like for the first time.

"We are counting down the days until we can move and treat our first patients.  We will be welcoming them into a building designed with their care in mind and it will make a huge difference to our staff as they work in a modern and purpose built hospital.

"This milestone brings us closer to its launch and shows just how much progress has been made on site so far."

The Eye Hospital has a distinctive design and will deliver 10,400 sq m of new accommodation, including a 24/7 Emergency Department for eye injuries and conditions, a Retina Unit for macular conditions, a Surgical Day Unit, as well as operating theatres and a Children's Outpatient Department.

The Trust's existing Sunderland Eye Infirmary, based at the heart of an established residential community, is already a leading provider of eye care services in the UK. The new, contemporary healthcare facility will help to meet the growing demands of an ageing population.

The new healthcare facility will form a key part of the Sunderland Riverside regeneration scheme.  The development is one of a number of buildings that will complete within the next year, including Culture House, the first homes on the Vaux site and Keel Crossing.

Dan Doherty, regional director of Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: "Reaching this stage of the build is a proud moment for everyone involved. The Eye Hospital is beginning to take its place in the Sunderland's evolving cityscape and it's exciting to see the progress made.

"This is a major milestone in a project that will not only transform ophthalmic care in the region, but also plays a key role in Sunderland's wider regeneration. With the exterior nearing completion, our focus now shifts to the internal fit-out, as we work towards the handover and ensuring the building is ready to support exceptional care from the moment it opens."

To stay up to date with the Riverside Sunderland development, visit: www.riversidesunderland.co.uk