Sunniside's Up in Sunderland

New investment is transforming Sunderland’s historic Sunniside area, restoring it to its former glory and creating an exciting and dynamic location for business and leisure.

Sunniside has played a key role in Sunderland’s commercial and cultural life over the years and the area is currently undergoing massive regeneration to breath new life into its historic streets.

Spearheading the regeneration project is Sunniside Partnership. Set up by Sunderland arc, Sunderland City Council, One NorthEast and English Partnerships in 2003, the Partnership has already attracted over £90 million of its £130 million investment target.
Set in the heart of Sunderland’s City Centre, Sunniside is the ideal location for business and trade. Many companies are already reaping the rewards of being situated in vibrant Sunniside.

Based around the award-winning Sunniside Gardens are restaurants and cafes, niche shops, stylish homes and state-of-the-art business premises.

‘ThePlace’ is the latest addition to the area’s exciting regeneration programme. It is an exciting new venture with performance space, art exhibition areas, a café, meeting rooms and a range of offices.

The £6 million landmark arts and business centre will open its doors later this summer and is set to host a series of innovative exhibitions and events. It will also offer plenty of office space for new businesses looking for a contemporary yet functional base.

In a prominent corner location, adjacent to the highly acclaimed Sunniside Gardens, thePlace comprises a new build complex and six refurbished grade II listed buildings.

Sunderland City Council will be managing events and exhibitions in the new building which comprises the redeveloped Manor Hotel on Athenaeum Street.

Stuart Ainsley, project manager at Sunniside Partnership, said: “thePlace is progressing really well and the building is due to open later this summer.

“I think people are going to be really impressed with the new facilities. thePlace is providing high quality, modern business and artistic space in a beautiful setting.”

Cllr Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council and chairman of Sunniside Partnership, said: “thePlace is a fantastic building that will help to attract further investment into the area. More and more businesses and artists are taking advantage of the high quality buildings and offices we can now offer in Sunniside and it is great to see it becoming a thriving part of the city centre again."

All of the high quality offices at the fully-managed thePlace are accessible to tenants 24 hours a day. Business owners will have access to all of the facilities in the building, including meeting rooms and spacious conference space, ensuring they present a professional and fully-capable business base.

Sunniside is set to continue to make waves in the city’s cultural and commercial living. Since Sunniside Gardens won the award for Regeneration Project of the Year category at the North East Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Renaissance Awards and two further highly-acclaimed titles, the area will undergo further regeneration.

Public realm works are now planned to carry out the next phase of environmental improvements along key routes linking the city centre to Sunniside. A £2.2 million investment will be rolled out between 2008 and 2010 and will be supported by installations from international artists.

Any business owners interested in moving into offices at thePlace should contact Sunderland City Council on 0191 561 2663. Grant support may be available to prospective tenants through Sunderland City Council’s Business Investment Team on 0191 561 1194.