Gardens set to make Sunniside blossom

A stunning £2 million showpiece garden is set to transform an historic area of Sunderland.

The newly completed Sunniside Gardens will come into full bloom this spring and become an oasis right in the heart of the city.
The gardens have been created as part of ambitious plans to rejuvenate a previously faded, yet beautifully distinctive area.

Designed by Robinson Landscape Design and funded by TyneWear Partnership and English Partnerships, Sunniside gardens will offer a place for visitors and residents to enjoy concerts, art displays and pavement cafes. It will create an area for relaxation just steps away from the main hustle and bustle with dancing fountains and artwork for everyone to enjoy.

The gardens are part of a £130m vision to create a new quarter of Sunderland city centre that is unique, offering specialist niche shops, beautiful apartments in restored Victorian townhouses and modern offices surrounded by century’s old history and architecture.

Spearheading the area’s change of fortunes is the Sunniside Partnership, which is supported by the City of Sunderland Council, English Partnerships, One NorthEast, Sunderland arc and TyneWear Partnership.

Councillor Bob Symonds, chair of the Sunniside Partnership and Leader of City of Sunderland Council, said: “The completion of the gardens marks a new era for Sunniside and the city. We are delighted with the end result and hope that people will use it, enjoy it and be proud of what can be achieved in their city.

“It is a clear sign to the people of Sunderland that we are serious about improving the area and driving the revival and future success of Sunniside.”

John Anderson, deputy chair of Sunniside Partnership, said: "The gardens will breathe new life into the area and will add vitality and interest to what is rapidly becoming a new-look Sunniside.”

Overlooking the gardens is the new Argent Business and Conference Centre. There are also newly refurbished offices, which form part of an exciting £6.1m arts and business venture currently under construction called thePlace. Occupying another prominent corner of Sunniside is ndhomes impressive Biscop House, offering 22 luxury apartments and a 4327 sq ft retail unit.

Assisted by commercial property grants of up to £60,000, owners and developers are also improving properties and businesses are moving in, creating a new buzz about Sunniside.