Public realm improvements mark new milestone for Riverside Sunderland

A new milestone has been reached in the development of Riverside Sunderland as public realm improvements progress.

County Durham-headquartered contractor, Esh Construction, has built the first phase of a new public thoroughfare providing improved access to the Stadium of Light, Sheepfolds Stables and the River Wear.

Forming a 10m wide direct route over the existing cobbled riverside footpath, a new overpass will connect the Stadium of Light to a new pedestrianised square in front of Sheepfolds Stables and onwards to the City Centre via the New Wear Footbridge.

Esh Construction has been on site at Sheepfolds since the turn of the year, with the enabling and drainage works now nearing completion. 220m3 of concrete was poured to form a reinforced concrete base slab, which was installed to accommodate pre-cast concrete units that provide the structural support for the overpass.

High quality public realm paving works are ongoing, with 5,000m2 of natural stone paving to be laid, with critical infrastructure and street scene enhancements also being delivered, as well as new trees and planters to help characterise the finished project.

Rod Milne, Contract Manager at Esh Construction, said: "The installation of the precast concrete culvert to the north of Sheepfolds Stables marks a key moment in this project. Having already excavated more than 2,000 tonnes of materials through our enabling works operations, the placement of the precast concrete units is a significant step in bringing the project to life.

"We have been working very closely with Sunderland City Council on the scheme, which will restore, regenerate and repurpose large swathes of land in this neighbourhood. As the project proceeds into a major paving installation phase, residents will really start to see a change to the landscape in the coming weeks."

The public realm improvements are part of a wider project to regenerate the area around Sheepfolds and the Stadium of Light, as detailed in the Riverside Sunderland masterplan. Over the coming years, the development will see over 32-hectares of land spanning both sides of the River Wear transformed into homes and workspace for thousands of people, new leisure amenities and public spaces.

Four Grade A office buildings have already been constructed across the site, as has City Hall, the 120-bedroom Holiday Inn, the Riverside Multi-Storey Car Park, several high-quality bars and restaurants, and the Sheepfolds Stables leisure development. 

Work is also progressing at pace on the New Wear Footbridge, a world-class Eye Hospital, Culture House, the Housing and Innovation Construction Skills Academy (HICSA), and a new Riverside Park, with consultation underway on plans to transform High Street West.

Once complete, it is estimated that the multi-billion-pound development will create over 10,000 new jobs, home for 2,5000 new residents and significantly increase the number of people visiting the city.

Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business, said: "It's fantastic to see work continuing apace on the new public realm improvements at Riverside Sunderland.

"Once complete, the new pedestrian route will combine with the New Wear Footbridge to significantly improve connectivity from the city centre to destinations such as the Stadium of Light, HICSA and Sheepfolds Stables, as well as providing access to the new homes and communities which are being created. It is a key part of the Riverside Sunderland development which, once complete, will see the city's skyline transformed for generations to come."
 

To find out more about Riverside Sunderland, visit https://riversidesunderland.com/