Member Article

Historic Area Of Sunderland To Undergo £2million Transformation

This month will see the start of work to transform the Sunniside area of Sunderland city centre.

Sunniside Gardens, originally known as “The Shrubbery”, began life in 1814 as a residential area, providing terraced houses for middle class Sunderland residents who wanted to escape the overcrowded riverside areas. “The Shrubbery” became a public open space as part of William Jameson’s master plan of 1821. However, changing business requirements over the last decade have seen the area fall into disrepair with many buildings now standing empty.

The £2million plans to revive the area will see the creation of a landscaped green space with illuminated fountains, as well as a new square in the Norfolk Street area of the site. An area next to the Sunniside medieval arch is also to be designated the ‘Shrubbery’, in keeping with the area’s original name. Cllr Bob Symonds, Chairman of Sunniside Partnership said: “It will be fantastic to see the improvements to Sunniside Gardens, West Sunniside and Norfolk Street completed to complement the recently refurbished Post Office building and other developments that are coming forward in the area.

I look forward to visiting the gardens when its sensitively designed plans have come to fruition and Sunniside once again has a unique, landscaped centrepiece.“ The transformation of the Sunniside area is being spearheaded by the Sunniside Partnership and is expected to be completed in autumn 2006. A leaflet is to be distributed throughout Sunniside about when footways and roads will be restricted during the construction works. A copy can be obtained by contacting Sunniside Partnership on 0191 567 4822.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .