‘Your strength will pull us through’
City leader highlights positives from a year blighted by pandemic
The strength of Sunderland’s people will pull the city out of the pandemic crisis as 2021 looks to be a year filled with investment into Wearside.
That's the view of Sunderland City Council leader Cllr Graeme Miller as he takes a look back at a tough year for its communities, citing its residents and businesses as the reason for its resilience and why he will strive to ensure more cash comes in to boost its economy.
In 12 months which has seen it battle the coronavirus crisis, with restrictions likely to come for some time, he says more must be done to support its hospitality businesses, but with new projects on the horizon, investment is on its way.
He says the key its success in 2021 will include the protection of Nissan’s future through the Brexit process, regeneration and housing schemes in Washington, the development of the new cultural quarter, the construction of city hall and neighbouring buildings on the former Vaux site through investor Legal and General, as well as hopes of Sunderland AFC’s promotion and the return of the crowds.
He highlighted notable developments in 2020 have included new social housing projects and the foundation of a credit union, the completion of the football hubs and Stack, the clearing of the Alex Smiles site, confirmation of the Sunderland Masterplan and funding for the £31million street smart bridge across the River Wear and the start of work on the £4m new household waste and recycling centre.
Praising its residents following a difficult year, he said: “Unsurprisingly, Sunderland has risen to face that challenge and is doing very well.
"On the public health front, I think we are doing well, and our residents are showing that, but our business community needs better support from our Government, because they are the ones which are really struggling with this ongoing series of lockdowns, especially in the city centre.”
Looking ahead to the New Year he added: “As a city, we continue with our inwards investment, we continue building the new city centre.
”We are looking to regenerate part of the north of Washington, to put a new village there to the west of Nissan and to regenerate the Sulgrave for housing.
"We’re looking to have a regeneration area in and around Philadelphia in the coalfield and the west end of Houghton to basically improve the economic shopping balance there and it’s about continuing to look at regeneration across the whole city.
"We’ve got more investment to come, we're looking constantly at bringing more institutional investors into the city.
"Legal and General have clearly said Sunderland is a good place to come and do business and I’m expecting that will continue in the New Year.
"I’m looking to get a great deal done in 2021 which will continue to enhance Sunderland and show that when I say – and I mean it – that Sunderland to be the best mediumsized city to work, rest and play.
"It genuinely is achievable and Sunderland people deserve no less.”
He also said City Hall will see the council work alongside the Department for Work and Pensions, with Gentoo, which will lend itself to better working practises between them all.