A £3.5m project to transform a former North East police station into a thriving business hub has started, after a construction partner was appointed.
Newcastle property developer Hanro Group won a competitive bid process to buy the former Gilbridge Police Station in Sunderland two years ago, triggering plans to convert the building into new workspace for companies.
A planning application was approved last year which will bring in a raft of changes at the 32,000sqft building, including fitness space for workers, an open business lounge and bookable meeting rooms.
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Now Hanro has enlisted Sunderland based Brims to carry out work on the former police station, which will be renamed The Yard when it opens its doors in the summer.
The building had been owned by Sunderland City Council until it sold to Hanro in February 2020, to enhance the authority’s plans for the Riverside Sunderland area.
The Yard’s development is the latest in a long line of positive investment announcements in and around Riverside Sunderland, which is emerging as a vibrant mixed-use urban quarter, where people will live, work and play.
Laura Lloyd, who is leading development on behalf of Hanro, said: “We’re proud to be working with a Sunderland firm to carry out the refurb of a building we’re confident will attract more businesses to the city centre, complementing the large scale office developments on the former Brewery site.
“It’s clear to see the pace and scale of change under way in Sunderland right now, and we’re proud to be playing our part in that, bringing forward a development that will further enliven a transforming part of the city.
“Riverside Sunderland is becoming a vibrant business district, and it’s exciting that we are creating opportunities for ambitious companies to be part of it, and to stand as part of the same community as brands like Ocado and Hays Travel, who have made this their home too.”
The project marks the latest significant project in Sundeland for Brims, which is based at Quay West Business Park, following the recent completion of the 450 seater auditorium.
Richard Wood, director of Brims Construction, said: “It’s great to be involved in the redevelopment of such a well-known building, which has now found itself in one of the city centre’s development ‘hot-spots’.
“We’ve worked collaboratively with Hanro and their team on the scheme since late 2020 and this will be the third major project we’ve undertaken recently in this part of the city alongside the offices for Hays Travel and the new Auditorium. It’s exciting to see a developer like Hanro get involved in offering more quality office space in this area.”
Hanro Group has invested more than £20m in Sunderland over the last five years, including the development of retail space in Trimdon Street.
The Yard will provide smaller offices for growing businesses, with suites starting at 484sqft set to be available for rent.
Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We’re really pleased to see work advancing on The Yard, which will be a great addition to the city’s office space market.
"We have seen the success of similar developments in the city, with more and more businesses attracted to our transforming city centre, and we look forward to seeing The Yard open its doors and welcome more businesses and business people to Sunderland.”
Up to £500m of development projects are set to be on site at Riverside Sunderland this year, with work expected to get started on the first of two Legal & General offices within weeks, as well as a new multi-storey car park, the new pedestrian crossing over the Wear, and the first 132 of an eventual 1,000 sustainable homes.
