Work starts on new car park
Work started this week on a new 100-space car park at Sunderland seafront.
C i ty l ead e r s h ave su n k around £10million into the coastline at Roker and Seaburn over the past decade or so in a bid to attract more visitors, boost businesses and make the most of one of Sunderland’s key natural assets.
Now a large new car park is to be built in Dykelands Road, Seaburn, to ensure there is enough parking for new leisure developments taking shape – the first of which, STACK Seaburn, opened earlier this month.
Full work on the car park s t a r t e d o n M o n d ay, w i t h some minor works taking place last week.
Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We are seeing our seaside become an increasingly popular destination, with new developments s u c h a s S TAC K S e a b u r n bringing in the crowds – and more to follow when a new inn with rooms currently under construction opens in 2021.
“It is important that we make it as easy as possible for people to visit our seaside, and enjoy its fantastic leisure offer – and in doing so, we create the right conditions for small businesses in the area to succeed.
"We h a v e w o r l d - c l a s s beaches, and a leisure offer that is developing into something really special. We want more and more people to come and enjoy it.
“We are putting in place the building blocks to transform Seaburn into a vibrant seaside destination, with an offer that will appeal to a wide range of visitors. Parking is one part of that effort.”
The car park, which will have its entrance will be next to popular restaurant Martinos, is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Cllr Miller said it is part of a range of parking upgrades to improve access to emerging leisure developments at the seafront. Parking is also being enhanced at Roker.
The car park will feature re-provided trees and soft landscaping to ensure it is an attractive addition to Seaburn, that compliments the area, which has itself seen significant landscaping improvements over the last decade.
There had been upset over the felling of trees to make way for the car park. But Cllr Miller said this would be addressed.
He said: “We’re re-providing trees where they have been removed to create access, and we’re adding more green landscaping to the car park too.
"We have a stunning seaside, and we want every part of that to look as attractive as possible, enhancing the natural beauty of the place.”
It comes after a £2.32million programme to improve the landscape and layout of Ocean Park at Seaburn was approved by Sunderland’s ruling cabinet last week.
Pub l ic rea l m upg rad e s will be made to the western footway, including visual improvements to the pumping station on the corner of Dykelands Road, and new eastwest pedestrian links.
And work will also extend to C ut T h roat D e n e, w i th soft landscaping, biodiversity improvements and new equipped play facilities also set to enhance the area.
The new works are a continuation of these and are lined-up to support developments in the area, including the new STACK Seaburn, which opened its doors earlier this month.