Sunderland's seafront is set to receive a further 5m worth of

investment.
Sunderland City Council today (11 February 2013) secured 2m from
the Government's Coastal Communities Fund, which with 800,000 in
Council match funding, will deliver further infrastructure works
designed to pave the way for the long term development of the Ocean
Park site and the seafront at Seaburn.
Sunderland's 2m from the Coastal Communities Fund is the second
largest allocation announced by the DCLG (Department for
Communities and Local Government).
In addition to the Coastal Communities project for Seaburn, the Council
has allocated a further 2.3m of its own resources for improvements at
Roker, continuing the work that has already been completed through the
Sea Change funded project. The first phase of these works is planned
for spring and will see further promenade improvements for Marine
Walk.
Improvements at Roker will also see the council invest a 1.35m in a
rolling programme of restoration for the 110-year-old Grade II listed
Roker Pier, starting with work on the lantern house this summer.
Private sector investment will also see the conversion and extension of
the old lighthouse keepers' cottages, near the entrance to Roker Pier,
into a high quality cafe and the conversion of the former Seaburn
Shelter into a cafe/restaurant/bar.
While Sunderland based Fitz Architects are seeking planning
permission for a mixed use development at Marine Walk, with
apartments upstairs and commercial/retail units downstairs.
Cabinet Secretary, Councillor Mel Speding said: "This is a really
exciting time for the seafront.
"We've seen a number of improvements to the seafront since we first
held our seafront consultation in 2009 and things are really starting to
gather pace. This is borne out by the level of private sector interest
we're beginning to attract."
"Private sector investment is key to helping us deliver the kind of
facilities people tell us they want at the seafront.
"That's why today's announcement is so important. Because it's all about
helping us fulfil our long term strategy to make the Ocean Park site
more attractive to a private developer who can take it forward as a
leisure-led development for families to use all year round.
"While we're not talking about something that's going to happen
overnight, the future development of the Ocean Park site will be a
major catalyst in the regeneration of the seafront, helping us deliver
significant economic, cultural, environmental and social
improvements to create a seafront we can all be proud of."
The bid was put together with the support of local traders including the
Marriott Hotel and the Sunderland Business Network.
The City Council is currently seeking a development partner for the
7.37 hectare Ocean Park site which has been underused for a number of
years and is also putting 800,000 of its own funding into the
improvements at Seaburn as part of the scheme.
The 2.8m will support the delivery of essential infrastructure work,
which in the long term will facilitate the comprehensive redevelopment
of Ocean Park by a private sector developer, in line with the Seafront
Regeneration Strategy and Seaburn Masterplan
The planned infrastructure improvements will include:
- a second phase of promenade improvements
improvements to Lowry Road behind Martinos to improve traffic flow
environmental improvements to Cut Throat Dene to make it more
attractive for wildlife and more of a natural play area in line with
the Seaburn masterplan
physical and environmental improvements to Whitburn Road
including improved crossing points to improve the pedestrian
environment, in line with views expressed during the 2009 seafront
consultation.
At Roker, planned promenade improvements include extending the
feature lighting which last year won a national award, the refurbishment
of the existing play area and new play equipment.
Clinton Mysleyko of Fitz Architects said: "We are excited about the
new proposals at the Seafront. Working hard with Sunderland City
Council we have had a huge involvement in the proposed regeneration
after gaining planning approvals on the new bar/restaurant at the former
Seaburn Shelter along with the new quality cafe at Pier Cottages, Roker.
"We have also just submitted an exciting planning application for a
mixed-use development at Marine Walk, Roker. This is in hope of
creating a new destination for the City. The coastline is an important
feature for Sunderland which is currently under-used so we are proud to
be a key figure in the regeneration proposals."
The three seafront cannonballs, which played a major role in helping
Sunderland win a 1 million contribution towards the regeneration of
the seafront from the Department for Culture Media and Sport in 2010,
will also be arriving this summer.
Inspired by the famous 'cannon ball rocks' found along the base of the
cliffs at Roker beachfront, the three cannonballs are mobile spaces that
can adapt themselves to a variety of uses.
As the date nears for their arrival, talks are underway with a number of
community groups about using two of the cannonballs for use as a
flexible base for groups who want to meet up at the seaside. Other
possible uses include stages for music and other performances.
The third is being marketed to a commercial operator as a coffee shop
and kiosk selling hot drinks, cold snacks and confectionary.
Cllr Speding said: "We think two of the cannonballs would lend
themselves particularly well to use by community groups who would
like to meet up at the seaside.
"They could even be put together with a stage in-between to create a
performance area.
"We've already had quite a bit interest from some of the community
groups we've been talking to and it may be that we appoint a community
organisation to manage the cannonballs and then book them out to other
groups.
"I think they could also be a fantastic facility for any school groups
visiting the seaside so that's also something we're going to be looking
at."