Multi-storey council HQ earmarked for Vaux site
Plans have been unveiled for a towering public sector hub which could become the new home of Sunderland City Council.
Last year, council bosses announced plans to move Sunderland Civic Centre to the Vaux site in a bid to replace its HQ with a smaller, more cost-effective base.
Two other options were originally presented, including refurbishing the existing civic centre or moving to Holmeside.
But council bosses opted for the Vaux site, which they said carried the lowest level of risk to services alongside being £4.7million cheaper than revamping its current offices. This week, a planning application was lodged for seven-storey and six-storey buildings on the site near Keel Square.
The new plans are linked to‘phasetwo’ofdevelopment on the Vaux site, which is being led by the council’s development partnership Siglion.
New plans include a 18,075 sqm business hub with ‘civic-related uses’, office space, a medical centre, a creche, a cafe/restaurant and a roof terrace.
If approved, construction could start later this year, with buildings offering a range of council and public services, alongside a new road link to Cumberland Street.
The hub’s ground floor is set to host customer service points, a cafe and a ‘debating chamber’, while other floors will provide office space.
And designs aim to take inspiration from historic buildings in the area in the nearby Bishopwearmouth Conservation Area.
Sunderland City Council’s leader, Coun Graeme Miller, speaking at full council last week, confirmed the site could be called the “City Hall and Public Sector Hub”.
He said the council’s childrens’servicesagencyTogether for Children, youth offending teamandDepartmentofWork and Pensions are planning to move to the site.
If a business case is approved, 1,200 council employees will relocate to building and work alongside anumberofpublicsectororganisations.
The hub will include a small amount of commercial space, new footpaths, cycle bays and extra parking provided on the wider site.
A planning statement adds: “The building has been designedintothreedistinctive sections, which relates to the make-up of buildings within the existing urban area.
“To reflect that the building shares a frontage to the city centre and therefore is required to be contemporary yet in-keeping of the existing urban grain.”
A cabinet report, due to be discussed next week, states the ‘civic centre replacement’ is expected to cost £41.381million in capital funding, with £2.274million set aside for 2019/20.
It adds the remaining project funds of £39.1million will be spent over the following four financial years – 2020/21 to 2023/24.
The Vaux Brewery closed in 1999, bringing more than 150 years of brewing history to an end in the region.
Afterremainingdormant for almost two decades, planning permission was granted to the first building on the site, The Beam, in 2015.
While building ground to a halt following the collapse of construction giant Carillion, works were continued by North East firm Tolent.
In recent weeks, council bosses announced that the £20million building is set for completioninMarch,withthe first tenants set to move in in April.
The public can comment on the ‘public sector hub’ plans until Tuesday, February 26 by writing to the council or commenting on its planning portal.
A final decision on the plans is also expected by Tuesday, May 7.
For more information, visit www.sunderland.gov. uk/online-applications and search planning ref: 19/00188/FU4