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Sunderland
English Partnerships is one of the founding partners of Sunderland arc, an Urban Regeneration Company based in Sunderland, which covers 542 ha along both banks of the River Wear. The arc’s Business Plan provides the infrastructure and investment framework for the creation of around 11,800 new job opportunities, 4,000 new homes and the regeneration of over 300 ha of brownfield land.
We have previously helped bring forward the preparatory work for the Stadium of Light and we are now working on a variety of projects in Sunniside as well as the Farringdon Row and Holmeside areas of the city.
Sunniside
The Georgian heart of the city, comprising just under 70 acres. The core is a grid of eighteenth- and nineteenth- century terraced houses and Sunniside Gardens, which we are helping to bring back into the life of the city. Local delivery of these projects is being undertaken by the Sunniside Partnership.
English Partnerships have worked with the Sunniside partnership to bring forward the re-development of the Sunniside gardens in a £2m transformation that complements over £53m of private investment that has been drawn into the area since 2003.
The 100-year-old gardens used to be the proud centrepiece of this area but over recent years they have lost their shine. The new gardens, designed by Newcastle upon Tyne-based Robinson Landscape Design, include illuminated fountains, new public artwork, attractive seating and planting as well as new paving.
English Partnerships have also worked with the Sunderland Housing Group (now Gentoo) to renovate the old Post Office which has been carefully transformed into 32 one and two bedroom apartments. This development has won numerous awards including the Best Renovation / Conversion in the region’s 21st Century Living Awards.
The conversion of the Old Post Office and sorting office on West Sunniside was part of a £5m Joint Venture Agreement with Sunderland Housing Group (now Gentoo). The Agreement has also been used to fund a number of other developments in Sunniside, including the former Water Board Building, now known as Vedra Place, and the former Mowbray Park Hotel, which is being transformed into luxury apartments and a restaurant.
Vaux
This is one of the North East’s most significant brownfield regeneration sites and is situated right in the heart of the City of Sunderland.
This highly prominent 10.44 ha (26 acre) former brewery site, which includes the Sunderland City Council owned Galley’s Gill park area, has the potential to become an exemplar of sustainable mixed-use development, creating a vibrant and attractive city quarter of regional, national and even international significance.
Sunderland arc’s proposals for the main Vaux site include:
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new homes
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office space
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two new hotels
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ancillary leisure
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retail space
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provision for high quality public realm improvements
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civic spaces
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a pedestrian footbridge across the River Wear linking the site to Stadium Village.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government approved Sunderland arc’s outline planning application in March 2007. This was further endorsed by the City Council’s adoption of the UDP Alteration No. 2 Central Sunderland in October 2007. Formal negotiations to acquire the site from Tesco are currently ongoing.
Selecting a lead developer partner to deliver a comprehensive, employment-led mixed use scheme, will commence in 2008.
Farringdon Row
This is a five ha site between the river and the city centre and offers a dramatic housing and commercial opportunity at an important western gateway to the city centre. It is proposed to deliver the development of Farringdon Row via a sequence of three phases.
Developer CTP Ltd has been granted detailed planning permission to build 6,500m² of commercial office space, a 124-bed hotel and 124 apartments on Phase One. It is hoped that work will start in 2008/09.
Phases two and three have been reappraised to reflect demand for family housing and to align with the supply of other property types across the city. The marketing process for phase two is due to begin in the latter part of 2008.
Holmeside
The Holmeside triangle is a seven-acre site adjacent to the transport interchange to the south of the city centre with the opportunity to add a crucial new dimension to Sunderland's retail core.
A masterplan has been developed for this major redevelopment opportunity and Thornfield Properties’ proposed £190m scheme will extend to approximately 47,000m² (460,000 sq ft) and will provide new retail and leisure facilities, apartments and a car park.
Sunderland arc and its partners have to date managed to secure approximately 50% of the site, with freehold vacant possession and a further 24% freehold subject to a number of leases. Negotiations are continuing with parties who hold a property interest in the site. The feasibility of relocating some of the existing businesses into the new development is also being explored.
Working closely with Thornfield, Sunderland arc and its partners aim is to ensure comprehensive redevelopment of a site that has been the subject of considerable piecemeal development in the past, ensuring the provision of high quality development on this key city centre site. Thornfield is continuing to work up its detailed scheme proposals.
Stadium Village
Stadium Village extends to a total area of 25 ha (62 acres) excluding the 48,000-seater Stadium of Light and including the adjoining Sheepfolds industrial area. Sunderland arc has taken the lead in developing the area and is working in close partnership with One NorthEast, English Partnerships, Sunderland City Council, Sunderland AFC and the University of Sunderland to deliver a mixed-use leisure led development.
Sunderland Aquatic Centre, home to the only Olympic-sized swimming pool between Leeds and Edinburgh, was officially opened in April 2008. Further proposals include a hotel and other substantive sports and leisure facilities. Sunderland City Council is leading the swimming pool and dry sports element of the development.
In 2008/09 a draft Development Framework will be subject to public consultation with a view to formal adoption by Sunderland City Council as a Supplementary Planning Document.
Sunderland arc has now completed two significant acquisitions at Sheepfolds. Negotiations are also progressing with other acquisitions in the area.
Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor (SSTC)
The SSTC will ease congestion and access to the city centre and provide a new link for the arc’s strategic sites, connecting new and existing communities.
The jewel in the crown will be a new, landmark bridge over the River Wear, providing an important gateway to Sunderland. It will begin at the A19/A1231 intersection across the river into the Grove site, helping to stimulate regeneration for the adjoining areas. In July 2008 the Government confirmed funding of £98m for the scheme.
Construction of the first phase could start as early as 2011 with the whole corridor being complete within a 15-year period, though private sector partners may provide sections of the corridor in advance of this timetable.
