North East LEP funding supports transformation of Gilbridge Police Station
The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) has invested almost £850,000 from government’s Getting Building Fund to support the transformation of the former Gilbridge Police Station into brand new, multi-use office accommodation in the heart of Sunderland city centre.
Renamed The Yard, the new building will provide high quality workspace for SMEs looking to grow their businesses in Sunderland, and attract companies back into the city centre, helping creating a thriving community of local businesses.
The Yard is one of 20 projects across the North East LEP area to receive investment from the Getting Building Fund. In total, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership is managing £47m awarded through government’s Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the region.
Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Despite a very challenging environment for businesses in the North East, we’re still seeing demand for high quality office accommodation in the region.
“Encouragingly, many businesses are looking to move back into our city centres, which is helping reinvigorate and reenergise these traditional business hubs after the pandemic.
“The Yard, along with the wider Riverside Sunderland development, is transforming Sunderland city centre and bringing investment into the wider region.”
Developer Hanro Group is leading the transformation of Gilbridge Police Station. When complete, the building will provide office accommodation – ranging from 500 sq ft to 23,000 sq ft – a business lounge, meeting rooms, cycle storage, EV charging, showers, natural ventilation, external ‘green’ space, and an area for outdoor events.
Laura Lloyd, Head of Portfolio at The Hanro Group, said: ”We are delighted that the North East LEP are supporting the creation of flexible, affordable office accommodation in Sunderland city centre through Hanro’s development of The Yard.”
The Yard is part of the Riverside Sunderland development led by Sunderland City Council. The city centre office building will complement additional commercial spaces that are being developed in the area, including Legal and General-backed Maker and Faber.
Riverside Sunderland will create a new central business district (CBD) in the city. When fully developed, the CBD will provide more than one million square feet of high quality office space, tailored to the needs of leading UK and international businesses. It will provide accommodation for 8,000 – 10,000 jobs, generating footfall and expenditure across the city centre.
Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We’re thrilled to see work progressing at pace on The Yard, which will be a fantastic addition to the city.
“We have seen the success of similar developments in the city over recent years, 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.”
The Getting Building Fund was established early in the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the coronavirus pandemic.
For more information about The Yard (formally Gilbridge Police Station), contact Bradley Hall on 0191 563 4242 or Sunderland BID on 0191 722 1002.
For more information about the Riverside Sunderland development, visit www.riversidesunderland.com.
For more information about the Getting Building Fund visit www.northeastlep.co.uk.