Sunderland’s £36m Eye Hospital comes into focus
Scaffolding is being dismantled and attention will switch to the interior of the 112,000 sq ft facility, due to complete next spring.
Contractor Kier is working on the project, which will include a 24/7 emergency department for eye injuries, a retina unit for macular conditions, a surgical day unit, operating theatres, and a children’s outpatient department.
Developed by Sunderland City Council, it will be handed over to South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust to operate, with the first patients expected in summer 2026.
The Trust’s existing Sunderland Eye Infirmary is already a leading provider of eye care services in the UK and this new healthcare facility will help to meet the growing demands of an ageing population.
Part of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration scheme, the development is one of a number of buildings that will complete within the next year, including Culture House, the first homes on the Vaux site, and Keel Crossing.
Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: “As the scaffolding is removed from the Eye Hospital, residents and visitors to the city will begin to get a sense of how this important new building will look when it is complete.
“The whole skyline in Riverside Sunderland is transformed, with Maker & Faber now complete, Vaux Housing progressing rapidly, Culture House closing in on completion, and – of course – our stunning new Keel Crossing bringing both sides of the river together.
“The scale and rate of change is phenomenal, and it will be great to see, for the first time, this nationally renowned facility, an Eye Hospital that will deliver often life-changing care to people from across the country.”
Dan Doherty, regional director of Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “Reaching this stage of the build is a proud moment for everyone involved. The Eye Hospital is beginning to take its place in the Sunderland’s evolving cityscape and it’s exciting to see the progress made.
“This is a major milestone in a project that will not only transform ophthalmic care in the region, but also plays a key role in Sunderland’s wider regeneration.
“With the exterior nearing completion, our focus now shifts to the internal fit-out, as we work towards the handover and ensuring the building is ready to support exceptional care from the moment it opens.”
