Vision is looking good ...

Another vision for our city is taking shape ... and it looks good to us.

There was a time when artist’s impressions of Sunderland development never got further than the drawing board.

These days the plans are turned into reality, sometimes it feels as if it’s before the ink is even dry!

The vision for St Mary’s Way was turned around with speed, as has the been the Mac Trust developments around the Old Fire Station.

Even the Northern Spire bridge, despite protestations from some quarters, was turned from architectural designs to finished article in double quick time.

The new vision for Sunderland’s Town Park at the south of Sunderland Minster looks fantastic.

It is part of the Bishopwearmouth Townscape Heritage Scheme and very much in keeping with the area.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £1.9million to the council for the overall scheme, which is set to run for five years. And what’s on offer goes beyond just the park. It is offering building and repair grants to property owners.

A report to senior councillors outlines how there are already 22 potential building restoration and enhancement projects in the scheme with a value of up to £1.2million.

Councillor Stuart Porthouse, the cabinet member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “Enhancing the park and helping to improve other listed buildings are all about creating higher quality, more attractive, secure and usable public spaces.”

All in all, this is yet another laudable improvement to the quality of life for the people of Sunderland.

It’s a vision worth sharing.