North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness will lead a new Creative Development Zone in Sunderland, working closely with Sunderland City Council to create a new creative capital for the north.
The new zone will unlock the next phase of development in the Riverside Sunderland regeneration programme, including the first phase of the Crown Works film studios, new urban neighbourhoods and projects to boost the creative sector.
This will include opening up new space for creative artists to work and develop their practice as commercial developments and housing projects are taken forward.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I want to give our brilliant creative industries the opportunity to thrive, from individual artists up to our plans for a first film studio in our region, creating new jobs for local people as we do so.
“We are launching a new Creative Mayoral Development Zone in order to speed up the transformation of Sunderland with creative industries at the heart of new urban neighbourhoods that are attractive and affordable places to live.
“Growing our creative industries is a key part of our Local Growth Plan for the North East. Now we will be working alongside Sunderland City Council to boost local investment and unlock the huge potential the city has, creating jobs in the industries of the future and high quality and affordable homes for local people.”
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Micheal Mordey said: “With over £650m invested to date, Riverside Sunderland is locally and nationally regarded as one of the UK’s most ambitious and transformative regeneration programmes.
“It’s fantastic that Kim and the North East Combined Authority will be helping to accelerate the next stage of this important development, that will create jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses in Sunderland and across the North East.”
Through Mayor Kim’s plan the North East Combined Authority will provide £300,000 investment, match funded by Sunderland City Council, to unlock the next phase of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration programme, including new and affordable housing, high quality employment, leisure and creative facilities, and phase 1a of Crown Works Studios.
The Creative Mayoral Development Zone will drive the City Council’s ambitious 2040 vision for Riverside Sunderland, bringing together the private and public sectors to attract funding and investment to:
- Enable the next stages of the Crown Works Studios project – a regional priority that could deliver c.230,000 sq ft of production floorspace in its first phase.
- Complete regionally significant investments within the original 2020 masterplan – including the Vaux Housing development, the Sheepfolds neighbourhood, and a new high street mixed-use development in partnership with Capital + Centric
- Drive inner-city regeneration, creating thousands of high quality and affordable new homes through the regeneration of neighbourhoods including Deptford, Old Sunderland, Sunniside and St Peter’s.
The North East CA will provide regional perspective, strategic oversight and convening power to the partnership including coordination with other North East council areas, anchored in the region’s Local Growth Plan, and emerging Spatial Development Strategy.
Sunderland City Council will bring local knowledge, delivery capacity and a proven track record, including successful partnerships with private sector investors and developers.
Homes England has also been invited to co-invest in this process as a strategic partner, focussing on large-scale housing delivery, creative industries growth, and urban regeneration across Sunderland.