Sunderland was one of the regeneration superstars of the 1980s when a whole new industry, in the form of motor manufacturing, arrived and changed the area’s fortunes for good. Today there are a number of very significant projects underway which could transform Sunderland yet again. Here we will look at what is going on, and what is planned, with regards to regeneration, development and the property market.
Sunderland has long been a manufacturing centre, once said to be the world’s biggest shipbuilding town. Today it is still one of the UK’s biggest manufacturing centres, but now for the motor industry. Nissan Sunderland or NMUK is the area’s biggest employer. It employs around 6,000 people onsite, supports another 30,000 in the supply chain, and has been a major driver in developing the area’s skills base. The company is planning to build three new EVs here and develop its own gigafactory.
Other key industries in Sunderland include the public sector, financial, professional and business services, construction and transport. The Port of Sunderland is a significant port for commodities including steel, wood pulp, construction materials and aggregates. Emerging industries include science, health, marine and offshore services and the creative and digital sector.
The area is a focus for business and distribution parks. Around 8,000 people work at Doxford International Business Park alone. The International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) is a joint venture between Sunderland and South Tyneside. It has 623,000 sq.ft. built out to date, space for an additional 1m sq.ft. was recently approved and is within an Investment Zone. It could ultimately support 7,500 jobs. EV battery maker AESC is developing its second gigafactory here, which could ultimately employ 1,000 people.
An interesting future-facing development is the British Esports Federation, which opened The National Esports Centre in the city in 2022. The 45,000 sq.ft. venue is said to be the largest esports and education complex of its kind. (Esports or electronic sports is a term used to describe competitive video gaming.)
Sunderland has an ambitious Smart City programme, a 20-year programme aimed at equipping Sunderland with a world class communications infrastructure. Initiatives include free public WiFi and development of the 5G network.
As well as having a strategic regional position by the A19 road, Sunderland is already served by the Tyne & Wear Metro tram network. This serves a limited range of destinations in the city and connects it to Newcastle upon Tyne 11 miles away in 20 minutes. There is an ambition to serve more areas of the city including Hendon, Grangetown and Ryhope and provide a new line to the nearby town of Washington.
