Three Grade II listed buildings in Sunderland will be given a new lease of life after plans to turn them into Esports apartments were approved.
The buildings, which were once used as offices but have since stood empty in West Sunniside in the city centre, will be transformed into homes. The properties will be a part of British Esports' investment in the city which will also see a state-of-the-art National Esports Performance Campus (NEPC), which is a multi-site venue, created at Riverside Sunderland.
The plans were approved by Sunderland City Council at the beginning of April and will see the conversion of the existing three separate buildings into three separate residential houses.
Read more: The ambitious regeneration projects which are set to finally change the face of Sunderland
A statement accompanying the plans states: "The development proposal comprises the simple conversion of three existing offices into three residential dwelling houses. The visual impact of this development is very minor and sympathetic to the surrounding built environment. The buildings are in good condition. To the rear three small individual air-conditioning unit’s are proposed.
"The conversion works are necessary to facilitate the use of the existing building as residential use. The buildings were previously used as office space but are mostly empty. The conversion will breathe new life into the building and the area. The building is located within the Sunniside conservation area and nearby to the former Post Office building which is a grade II listed building."
The statement adds: "The Sunniside area has undergone a major refurbishment to bring the area back to life including works to the Sunniside Gardens, The Post Office Building and The Place Arts Centre. The area was originally the business centre of Sunderland in Victorian Era.
"The businesses all moved further into the city centre with the demise of the shipbuilding trade in the 1980’s.Works are still ongoing with the regeneration of Sunderland, trying to encourage business and development in the area."
Esports - an abbreviation of electronic sports - refers to organised competitive video gaming, in which teams and individual players pit their skills against one another online, and often in front of large live audiences to win trophies and cash prizes, which can extend to millions of pounds.
Read next:
