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First phase of job-creating development on former Vaux site moves forward

Plans to transform the former Vaux Breweries site in Sunderland city centre into a business, retail, residential and leisure development are set to become a reality this summer.

If the newly submitted planning application for phase one of the flagship project is given the go-ahead, the site will be the first of five areas of the city to be regenerated in a £100m-plus scheme managed by Siglion, the development partnership set up by Sunderland City Council and Carillion, managed by igloo Regeneration.

Central to the plans for phase one is a 60,000sq ft office building at the centre of the 5.5 hectare site, along with infrastructure work to continue the Keel Line and landscaping work to enhance the area.

Siglion chief executive John Seager said: “This is the first major speculative office development in Sunderland for many years.

“Even larger cities in the UK are rarely willing to speculate on office buildings, so this is a great step forwards we’re making for Sunderland.

“It will be a substantial building overlooking the river at the end of the Keel Line, and a step change in the quality of development in the city centre.”

Siglion has also applied for outline planning approval for the site master plan, including a range of developments, with residential, car parking, retail, hotel, leisure and further commercial elements.

John Seager added: “We’ve been through a full and open consultation process, and I’m really pleased about the positivity we’ve found.

“The plans have been very well-received by local residents and businesses in the city and we’ve taken on board their comments.

“The design team has worked very hard to get to this position this year. The team only got together formally in January, so things have moved pretty quickly.”

Neil McMillan, chair of Siglion and development director of Carillion said: “We’ve reached an exciting stage in this major redevelopment project at the former Vaux site, which will regenerate key areas of Sunderland not just for the immediate future but for the benefit of generations to come.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .