Carillion has reached a milestone on the construction of a major new office building in Sunderland.

The company has installed steelwork to initial bays at the former Vaux brewery site, which will feature a 60,000 sq ft office building once finished in summer 2018.

Designed by architects Field Clegg Bradley Studios, the five-storey facility is being delivered by Carillion as part of the Siglion joint venture (JV) with Sunderland City Council and Igloo Regeneration. The JV is carrying out a 20-year programme to transform much of the city.

Features of the office building will include 1,000 sq ft suites, ground floor space suitable for a bar, café and restaurant that will overlook the River Wear and Wearmouth Bridge.

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In addition, approval has been given to the 25-metre 'The Launch', a giant metal structure which will look over the Wear to commemorate the city's shipbuilding heritage.

Eddie Tribe, Carillion's operations director said: "It's great to start work on this iconic site. Our work will create jobs and opportunities for local businesses. We have agreed a target to achieve 60 per cent of spend with local suppliers and aim to employ 16 apprentices throughout the construction programme, with further opportunities within our supply chain for employment for local people."

John Seager, chief executive of Siglion, said: "It's fantastic to see the building begin to take shape and see this important location transformed into a development that reflects the modern and dynamic city that Sunderland is.

"The Vaux development, when it is completed, will be a space that will create new jobs, workplaces and original communities. It's a huge step forward and we hope that the second phase will follow soon after the first building."

(LM/MH)