New Holiday Inn in city centre is taking shape
A new Holiday Inn hotel, in Keel Square, is beginning to take shape as the metal frame is constructed.
The new 120-bed Holiday Inn at Keel Square in Sunderland city centre is being built as part of the Riverside Sunderland development – with the metal frame of the four-storey hotel now in place.
Plans for the new £18m hotel were first approved in 2019 when they were brought forward by Cairn Group, with work commencing at the site last year.
Cairn Group’s Richard Warren has revealed that it is now “full steam ahead” to get the construction complete and the hotel open for spring next year.
Mr Warren said: “It’s fantastic to see the frame in place for this excellent new addition to the city’s hotel offer.
"We are really excited by the plans for Riverside Sunderland and can see such potential in this part of the city, so we’re delighted to be developing a venue that can play a part in the success of Sunderland.
“The hotel will stand in a prime position, allowing it to attract both leisure and business guests. It’s full steam ahead until opening now.”
Upon opening, it will create 130 jobs as the development will feature four active ground-floor
spaces that will be occupied by cafes and eateries, with upper floors providing accommodation for business and leisure visitors.
The commercial units are open to both national and local businesses, with two of the spaces set to be let out by Sunderland City Council, which is inviting people who may be interested to get in touch.
Peter McIntrye, executive director of city development at Sunderland
City Council, commented: “The active ground floor frontage will make this hotel a hive of activity, with guests of the hotel and people living and working at Riverside Sunderland and the rest of the city centre able to make use of the eateries that open there.
“The hotel will play an important part in connecting the city centre to the Vaux site and we’re thrilled to see it moving forward."