Plans to transform and upgrade Sunderland's central train station have been unveiled.

Proposals for the southern entrance of the tation were revealed, for a six-year programme to fully transform the city's arrival point.

Preparatory work on the first part of the project is expected to begin within days, kick-starting a programme of improvements that will deliver a beautiful new station for the city.

Working in partnership with Network Rail, Nexus, Grand Central and Northern Rail, Sunderland City Council is driving the project, beginning with the demolition of the current south entrance, clearing the way for the construction of a statement building that will herald the start of the transformation into an integrated public transport network that matches the city's ambitions and meets future needs.

The new entrance will create a prominent visible landmark, with a stunning façade overlooking Market Square. The large glass wrap-around design, creating a light, bright and welcoming concourse, will be set among upgraded public realm. A new ticket office and reception, public toilets, comfortable waiting areas and retail space and cafes will all be created, as well as improvements to accessibility. Office space on the new mezzanine level will be reserved for railway industry staff.

A meeting of the council's cabinet is expected to sign off plans for the station regeneration, which also includes a new multi-storey car park (MSCP) on Holmeside.

-- Advertisement --

Having unlocked the funding needed to push ahead with the southern concourse, council leaders will pave the way for the whole transformation programme to be delivered over the next six years, with the northern entrance reimagined, with attractive public realm to create the Central Business District statement building and gateway entrance on High Street West. The northern entrance will become the city's main arrival point, with Mackies Corner and the Elephant Tearooms just two of the impressive buildings greeting people coming into Sunderland.

Major works to the platform-level of the station are included in the plans, with the ambition to increase capacity by creating a four track, four platform station that separates Nexus and Metro, on one platform, from mainline services allowing both to expand as public transport connections regionally and nationally, and enabling them to provide access to jobs, to secure investment and to grow the economy.

More than £16m has been secured from the Transforming Cities Fund to progress southern entrance works, with the remaining balance coming from the council and partners including Nexus and Network Rail.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "The stunning CGIs and animations that we're unveiling today are not just a vision. They're a delivery plan, and the product of many months of work to secure a transformational programme of investment in the station that is both ambitious and deliverable.

"We are absolutely focused on making this happen quickly, because we know it's something residents want and something Sunderland deserves - a station to be proud of, reflecting the size, scale and significance of an ambitious Northern powerhouse.

"So much is happening in Sunderland right now - in recent months we've had the launch of Riverside Sunderland, a fantastic Nissan jobs announcement and continued infrastructure works enhancing our connectivity. This project represents another huge leap forward in our evolution.

"Sunderland is a city on the march. We're ambitious, we're focused and we're delivering the transformation needed to ensure we become the dynamic, vibrant, healthy smart city we want to be. The station - as a key arrival point - has to be a core part of our plan for Sunderland, and it is."

As well as the station, the funding expected to be released by the council next week - which will create a total £26m 'pot' for the scheme - will also enable the development of a 400-space four-storey multi-storey car park at Holmeside to support the station.

Work on the southern entrance of the station is expected to get started in August, and completion is scheduled for the end of 2022, with the new southern entrance set to open at the beginning of 2023.