Multi-storey car park – Riverside Sunderland

FIRST designs for a new £14m multi-storey car park with up to 750 spaces will be considered at Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet meeting next week.

The car park is earmarked for Farringdon Row as part of Riverside Sunderland, the new urban quarter overlooking the River Wear.

Cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday 17 November is examining a report to begin procuring a contractor for finalising design works and beginning construction.

The car park will help maximise and progress development opportunities at Riverside Sunderland and follows last month’s planning application for two major new office sites – providing some 200,000 sq ft of commercial space – by institutional investor Legal & General.

The car park is expected to have between 500 and 750 spaces to help serve Riverside Sunderland development and reduce pressure on other city centre car parks such as St Mary’s.

Land to the east of Farringdon Row, between the southern junction with the A1231 and the River Wear to the north, was identified as the optimum location. This is to reduce city centre congestion and ensure pedestrian priority.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller said: “Riverside is part of our City Plan for a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland as we work with our development partners on continuing to create new homes, more jobs, new investment, securing further business growth and attracting more visitors.”

Earlier this year, as part of its capital budget for infrastructure works, the council agreed and allocated £9m towards the car park project. Further contributions toward the costs will come from developers.

Cllr Miller added: “This new car park will serve home owners and workers at new housing and office developments, city visitors and increase our city centre’s parking capacity.”

With a commitment to sustainability on the Riverside Sunderland project, the car park is being planned to include an initial 15 per cent electric vehicles spaces.  It is expected the car park will operate outside of normal working hours, to support the evening economy in the city centre.  

Cabinet is being requested to authorise the procurement of a design and build contractor for the scheme and any other relevant appointments, and approve funding arrangements. The car park is also proposed to operate through a combination of pre-paid permits and paid parking.