Sunderland’s High Street West scheme goes before committee

Capital&Centric’s plans to regenerate a four-acre stretch within the wider Riverside Sunderland masterplan into an urban neighbourhood will be considered by the council next week.

Recommended for approval, the outline application covers four plots along what was once the city’s prime retail pitch but has in recent years seen rising vacancies and a shift toward lower-value uses.

The site includes the former Marks & Spencer, cleared Argos and Mothercare units, and existing retail occupied by Sports Direct.

Supported by Lichfields and designed by Faulkner Browns, the scheme proposes a flexible, mixed-use redevelopment, bringing forward a blend of retail, leisure, workspace and new homes, alongside serviced apartments.

While detailed designs are still to come, the aim is to futureproof the scheme by keeping the mix adaptable to market demand.

At its core, the project is about rebooting High Street West as a destination, reconnecting key parts of the city centre and drawing activity back into what the council sees as the “heart” of Sunderland.

The site sits between Keel Square and Bridge Street, and is expected to help stitch together the city’s growing cultural quarter with heritage-led regeneration nearby.

Public realm upgrades and landscaping form a big part of the vision and plans include reopening historic “lost lanes” to improve pedestrian links, particularly north–south routes դեպի St Mary’s Boulevard and the emerging Vaux business district.

The existing pedestrian bridge over the boulevard would be demolished and replaced with new at-grade crossings to improve movement and accessibility.

One Environments has designed the landscaping, which at this stage includes options for a commercial option, a residential option, and a hybrid alternative.

• Subscribe for free to Place North East’s weekly newsletter