Spades have officially broken ground on an ambitious project to transform swathes of land on both sides of the River Wear in Sunderland city centre.
Riverside Park will be the centrepiece of Riverside Sunderland, one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration projects. Covering 13.7 hectares of parkland and 5.3 hectares of riverfront, the park will be made up of five areas; Southern Gateway, Kingsley Gardens, Galley’s Gill, Lambton Riverside, and Wearmouth Riverside.
Construction work is being delivered in phases, with work on the first phase, comprising the Southern Gateway and Kingsley Gardens, now underway. Situated between the Riverside multi-storey car park and new Eye Hospital, the Southern Gateway will include a new park entrance, attractive landscaped spaces, ponds, and social areas designed to increase biodiversity and encourage public use.
Kingsley Gardens, a community-managed garden space featuring individual and communal plots, will provide public spaces for growing organic fruit and vegetables and spaces to relax and socialise.
Andy Radcliffe, Esh’s Chief Executive, said: “It was a pleasure to be part of the start on site event and hear more about how this important project will become a key feature in the Riverside Sunderland landscape. We look forward to building on the success of previous projects that we have delivered as part of the wider regeneration of Sunderland while generating even more social and economic value for the local community.”
Future phases will include high-quality landscaping, walking routes and exercise zones, play areas and a skate park, and areas for community gatherings and events.
The transformation of Riverside Park aims to respect the extensive heritage value, create new and enhanced habitats, reintroduce native species that maximise biodiversity, and support active healthy lifestyles to improve community wellbeing.
Cllr Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: “It is fantastic to see work getting underway on yet another key city development. Riverside Park will be at the beating heart of Riverside Sunderland, providing green spaces, communal gardens, and recreational areas for people of all ages to utilise and enjoy.
“We are proud that Esh Construction, a business deeply rooted in the North East, is delivering this project. We have made a commitment as a Council to ensure that our developments maximise benefit for the local and regional economy, and this is a prime example of that.
“Esh is a North East business, delivering a project for the people of the North East which will unlock local jobs and supply chain opportunities for North East people and businesses.”
For more information on Riverside Sunderland, visit: https://www.riversidesunderland.com/
It was a pleasure to be part of the start on site event and hear more about how this important project will become a key feature in the Riverside Sunderland landscape. We look forward to building on the success of previous projects that we have delivered as part of the wider regeneration of Sunderland while generating even more social and economic value for the local community.”