Green light for new office buildings on ex-Vaux site
Plans for two new office buildings on the former Vaux site have been given the stamp of approval by councillors.
This week, Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee discussed the plans which are part of the Riverside Sunderland development, a new urban quarter for the city.
The five and six-storey office spaces – both of which will stand behind City Hall with views across the river – will take centre stage in the council’s regeneration scheme.
The buildings can also be subdivided and let to multiple occupants, providing the potential to create thousands of jobs.
In a report to councillors, city planners said the scheme is set to make a “significant and positive contribution to townscape character and will become a significant development in the city”. The report went on to say: “It is considered that the application proposalrepresentsakeyelement of the continued development of Vaux and will bring significant economic benefits and substantial inward investment into the area, city centre and wider city region.
“Significant weight therefore is being given to the regeneration of this prominent vacant, brownfield site.”
The plans were unanimously backed at a planning meeting on November 20, which was held via videolink and broadcast on YouTube.
In response to a question from Cllr James Doyle, planners clarified that the development would offer secure cycle parking and that a proposed “club room” would serve as a “functioning events space”.
Separate plans for a multi-sto rey car pa rk at Farringdon Row are expected to be brought forward in future to help serve the new offices.
At the meeting, Cllr Doyle raised concerns about “the potential strain that could be placed on the existing parking infrastructure” in the interim period between the projects.
Planning officer Anthony Jukes said the new office buildings could be serviced by the existing car parks, with parking being acceptable.
Riverside Sunderland’s masterplan includes a 33.2-hectare site across both sides of the River Wear with a range of new leisure, housing and office developments.
Work is set to begin on the first of the two office buildings in early 2021.