Sunderland
English Partnerships is one of the founding partners of Sunderland arc, an Urban Regeneration Company based in Sunderland, which covers 1,700 ha along both banks of the River Wear.
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 over 100 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 £32m 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 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. 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.
Farringdon Row
This is a six ha site between the river and the city centre; masterplanning is currently underway to decide the future of this site, and to integrate it into the new river route. CTP have submitted a planning application for the site and it is hoped that work will start in 2008.
Holmeside
The Holmeside triangle is a seven-acre site adjacent to the bus station to the south of the city centre.