Sunderland AFC's charity arm, the Foundation of Light, has announced it is looking for a contractor to build its new Beacon of Light development.

The building will provide a mix of indoor and outdoor sporting facilities located next to the Stadium of Light and Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

The development was designed by architects FaulknerBrowns and will consist of six storeys.


The Beacon will provide 11,140 square metres of accommodation and occupy 4.75 hectares of land.

The Façade line of the building will sit 4.5m below the football stadium eaves with the stadium roof structure projecting above.

The Beacon will provide a mixed use space, with facilities including sports halls, football pitches, flexible informal learning spaces, a health and wellbeing zone along with vocational training areas.

Sir Bob Murray, Chairman of the foundations trustees, said: "The Beacon of Light will be an exciting and inspiring education, training and sports facility and an important catalyst for the wider regeneration of this quarter of the city.

External landscaping will also be carried out around the development site.

(LM/CD)