12 game-changing projects that will bring additional footfall, spend and increased dwell time in the city centre
1. City centre housing
1000 new homes will be built in the city centre by 2030 as well as aspirations to see a student village developed, delivering up to 2500 purpose built student rooms
2. Central Business District
There is over one million square feet of new grade A office space in the pipeline at Riverside Sunderland, with 440,000sqft already delivered.
3. Crown Works Studios
A partnership between Fulwell73 and Cain International, work is expected to start on the £450million Crown Works Studios - one of the largest film studios in Europe - in late 2024.
4. New Hospitality Venues
A 120-room Holiday Inn opened in 2023 alongside The Botanist and Keel Tavern which have opened below the hotel, with Flower Café and award-winning Pan-Asian restaurant, The Muddler coming soon.
The Grade II-listed North Eastern Railway Stables has also been lovingly restored by Sunderland-based architects and engineers, BDN Ltd, housing multiple street food vendors, restaurants, a microbrewery and whisky and cigar lounge.
5. Culture House
This spectacular cultural venue on Keel Square will include a new city library, as well as a range of spaces for learning, making and creating in a unique, immersive environment.
6. Eye Hospital
Sunderland's nationally renowned Eye Hospital is moving to a state-of-the-art new building in the city centre. Construction has commenced with the facility due to open in 2026 and 300,000 visitors are expected, looking for places to grab a coffee or browse the shops between appointments.
7. New Wear Footbridge
A spectacular new bridge for walkers and cyclists will connect both sides of the River Wear between the city centre and Sheepfolds, linking Keel Square to the Stadium of Light, with up to 49,000 fans expected to cross the bridge on a match day.
8. Housing Innovation & Construction Skills Academy
Construction will complete in Spring 2025 on the £15m development, enabling young people in the city to study and build the homes of the future.
9. Riverside MSCP
A new 650-space car park, incorporating smart technologies and biodiverse living walls to create a unique structure for parking has opened on the edge of the city centre providing visitors with easy access to the city centre.
10. Sunderland Transport Interchange
The first phase of a £26million project to redevelop Sunderland's central rail station, located in the city centre, completed earlier this year, providing a warm welcome to visitors to the city and multiple retail units ready to occupy.
11. Riverside Park
Riverside Sunderland's extraordinary landscape setting will be a unique selling point for the new urban quarter, boasting a café and numerous leisure activities for visitors to the city to utilise. Work will commence in 2024.
12. National Esports Arena and Performance Campus
British Esports has begun work on the development of a National Esports Arena which will draw athletes, teams and visitors from across the globe. It has also opened a multi-million-pound training and performance centre in the city centre which hosts teams from across the globe each and every month.
