News from Robinson Landscape Design

Robinson Landscape Design leads the team appointed to deliver the next phase in the regeneration of the Sunniside Cultural Quarter in Sunderland. The work will see the redesign of streets within this historic setting, restoring the unique character of the area and creating a vibrant and memorable public realm. Recognising that Sunniside includes the highest concentration of listed buildings within the city, contemporary designs will reflect the restraint and tact of the surrounding Georgian architecture.

“We are aiming for a British example of a public realm that can stand up to comparison with some of the best streets in Europe”, explains Tom Robinson, Director at Robinson Landscape Design.

This commission builds upon the success of the recently completed Sunniside Gardens project which now provides the focus of regeneration activities in the district. The newly-refurbished Gardens has brought high quality public space back into use for leisure and commerce, with a community of cafés, restaurants, offices and residential properties now blossoming. New street furniture and fountains combined with intelligent planting have reclaimed this green, civic square for the pedestrian.

The public realm improvements form part of the £130m programme to regenerate this previously neglected area of Sunderland led by the Sunniside Partnership. The project team also includes engineers White Young Green, quantity surveyors Hall & Partners, lighting consultant Neil Baxter Associates and art curator Ian Banks.