Sunniside has seen huge investment in the western part (also known as the historic core) but there is still a wealth of opportunity and potential in the eastern area.

The Sunniside Masterplan provides exciting and innovative proposals for the use of this land, which is made up of three distinct character areas:

• the North-East sector
• the Eastern sector (around Nile Street and Villiers Street)
• the Tavistock area (to the south of Borough Road).

A range of difference uses is being proposed, based on a rigorous commercial assessment of the area, the priorities of other regeneration schemes and a detailed understanding of Sunderland’s housing needs.

The result is a masterplan that is carefully integrated into the existing historic surroundings, with proposed uses that complement existing initiatives elsewhere, whilst addressing Sunderland’s wider strategic and economic needs.

The masterplan identifies that:

• There is demand for a range of housing types and sizes, particularly family sized accommodation, to encourage people to live in the area and to contribute towards meeting the identified needs across the wider city area to balance housing market supply and demand;
• There is demand for Grade A good quality small and medium sized office space, which will complement proposals for commercial space identified in other regeneration initiatives in the city;
• There is the opportunity for some further leisure provision which will support the investment already made in the north-west part of Sunniside, where a multiplex cinema complex, casino, food and drink outlets and a bowling alley complex have now been completed;
• Small scale retail development will support the growing residential and comercial market as redevelopment progresses.

In response to this, the masterplan proposes the following uses:

• Approximately 600 homes, mainly family sized
• Up to 30,000 sq. metres of high quality, small and medium sized office accommodation
• 3,000 sq. metres of light industrial floorspace, primarily for creative industries
• 2,000 sq. metres of small retail units
• 2,000 sq. metres leisure use

This level of development is expected to take place over 15 years and will attract in the region of £200million of private sector investment, creating around 1,600 jobs.

The masterplan has now been incorporated into the Sunniside Planning and Design Framework, which following public consultation, was adopted by Sunderland City Council in July 2008 as a formal Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

This SPD will guide investment decisions in the area, underpin the assembly of appropriate development sites and any potential Compulsory Purchase strategy and carry significant weight as a material planning consideration when determining planning applications.