Sunniside Gardens Commended

New £2m gardens in the heart of Sunderland’s historic city quarter have been commended at a prestigious award ceremony.
Since opening in 2007 Sunniside Gardens have transformed what was once a rundown part of the city centre and have scooped a string of accolades as a result. The latest commendation comes from the Royal Town Planning Institute as part of its North East Region Awards for Planning Achievement.
The Gardens were designed by consultants Robinson Landscape Design and funded by TyneWear Partnership and English Partnerships as part of ambitious plans by Sunniside Partnership to rejuvenate the area.
RTPI National President Janet O’Neill was met by key figures involved in the regeneration project during a special visit to the area yesterday (FRI). Sunniside Partnership accepted the commendation on behalf of its partners at an awards dinner at the National Glass Centre yesterday (FRI) evening.

Earlier this year the Gardens won the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) North East Renaissance Award in the category of regeneration and were also Highly Commended at last year’s Landscape Institute Awards. The engineering firm that built the Gardens, Seymour of Hartlepool, also received a commendation at last year’s Civil Engineering Contractors Association North East Awards.
Cllr Paul Watson, Chairman of Sunniside Partnership and Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “The recognition brought by this commendation from the Royal Town Planning Institute is a prestigious acknowledgement of the progress being made by the City Council and Sunniside Partnership in transforming this historic corner of the city centre into an area of unique appeal to visitors, residents and businesses alike.

“In the new Sunniside Gardens the city can boast a public space of truly outstanding quality. It has innovative modernistic features that symbolise the regeneration and revival of the area, reflecting its distinctive heritage, and playing a positive role in the shaping of Sunderland as a prosperous city.”
Tom Robinson, of Robinson Landscape Design, said: “The Gardens balance contemporary ideas with a respect for heritage of the area. We are very proud of this project and we are delighted that the scheme has been recognised once again by experts in the industry.”

The Gardens, which feature lighting, fountains and artwork, are part of a £130m vision to create a new and unique quarter of Sunderland city centre, offering specialist niche shops, art studios, beautiful apartments and modern offices surrounded by century’s old history and architecture. The latest addition to the area is a new £6m arts and business centre called thePlace.
Sunniside Partnership was set up in 2003 by Sunderland City Council, Sunderland arc, English Partnerships and One NorthEast with additional support from TyneWear Partnership.