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Sunderland’s Economic Leadership Board reveals city-changing £1.3bn plans

Ambitions £1.3bn proposals to propel Sunderland as a city of future development and prosperity over the next four years have been released this week.

The city’s 3, 6, 9 Vision document sets out details of how the Sunderland’s ‘Transforming our city’ strategy and action programme is set to dramatically change the cityscape, create thousands of new jobs, and boost the city’s cultural impact over the next three, six and nine years.

Sunderland’s Economic Leadership Board, which includes Sunderland City Council, Siglion, the University of Sunderland, Gentoo, City Hospitals, the Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture Trust, the Sunderland Business Improvement District and key city-based businesses are working closely together to ensure the plans come to fruition within the timescale.

The city is already celebrating success with major projects now underway such as the Vaux development in the city centre, the New Wear Crossing, and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), all of which will create thousands of news jobs and open major new opportunities for people who live and work in the city.

Over 40 projects are identified in the 3,6,9 document covering the five key themes of economy, connectivity, education, culture and housing.

The International Advanced Manufacturing Park, following planning permission, will begin to be developed, in partnership with South Tyneside Council, in 2019. It will create over 5,200 job opportunities and bring in more than £300m of private sector investment during the next decade by attracting a wide range of international companies to invest in the area.

Construction at the city centre’s Vaux development began in December 2016 at this historic gateway site, and the first phase is scheduled for completion this summer.

The three phase Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor is now well underway. St Mary’s Boulevard has created an attractive, accessible tree-lined route into the city, and the New Wear Crossing structure is already dominating the river. The third phase, the £57m dual carriageway linking the city centre and the Port of Sunderland will begin next year and be complete within two years.

Work has started on Sunderland’s arts and entertainment complex which will form the centrepiece of a new cultural quarter. The Old Fire Station off High Street West is being developed into a £3m restaurant, cafe, heritage centre and dance and drama studio due to open next autumn.

Arts Council England has awarded £2m over the next four years to Sunderland Culture. The city has also been awarded £175,000 to create a new exhibition space for the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art at the National Glass Centre.

In the last year, the Hilton Hotel at the Stadium of Light and the new campus at Sunderland College both opened their doors.

Businesses are investing in the city across key sectors. In the last five years Sunderland’s automotive companies created 3,742 new jobs, invested £917 million and built two million sq.ft. of new floorspace on 88 acres of land.

The recently published Tech Nation report indicates that the turnover of the city’s digital tech businesses grew by 101% between 2011 and 2015, and supports over 5,700 jobs. The Guardian described the city as ‘one of the fastest-growing software hubs outside London’.

Cllr Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council and Chair of the Economic Leadership Board said: “The 3,6,9 plan underpins our long-term strategic view which has brought jobs, investment and major developments to the city.

“Smart, sustainable Sunderland is a growing reality, one which we are all determined to continue to invest in to bring new opportunities to the people who live and work in the city, and to secure our position worldwide as a first-choice location for business investment.”

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