Vaux brewery regeneration scheme gets under way

Main contractor Carillion has started work on the first building at the former Vaux brewery site in Sunderland, marking the start of this major regeneration scheme.

The site has stood empty for 17 years but now forms part of a major city wide regeneration programme being undertaken by Siglion, a joint venture between Carillion, Sunderland City Council and Igloo Regeneration.

The first building will be a 5,500m² steel-framed office block, which will be the first speculative office space to be built in Sunderland for several years. It will be one of the few sites in the city centre offering Grade A office space to attract new businesses.

Construction of the office building will create between 100 and 120 jobs at its peak. The project will also offer opportunities for apprentices who are training at Carillion’s Apprenticeship Training Centre in Sunderland.

As part of Carillion’s commitment to working with local suppliers its aim is that 60 per cent of its spend will be with suppliers in the region.

Carillion Senior Project Manager Michael Rutherford said: “This not only signals an important milestone for the iconic Vaux site but for the wider regeneration of Sunderland which we are excited to be a part of.

“The Vaux site is the first of five areas of the city to be developed in a 20-year regeneration scheme managed by Siglion. The high-profile site will include office, retail, residential and leisure facilities.”

Siglion was formed in 2014 to help regenerate Sunderland by bringing new economic activity to the city, redeveloping dormant sites such as Vaux and re-positioning Sunderland as a place to invest.

NSC understands that Carillion has yet to appoint a steelwork contractor for the project.