SUNDERLAND seafront will soon become home to an exciting new social hub, as planning permission is granted to Danieli Holdings to build their second container village in the North East.
The STACK Seaburn development will create a unique space for enhanced lifestyle experiences with a focus on community wellbeing, socialising, events and a mix of independent street food and casual dining options.
The company’s focus is on developing a community space where people come together through music, sport, games, events and regular pop ups, whilst making the most of the seafront destination with a range of indoor and outdoor activities. There are also plans to include a function room towards the back of the scheme, suitable for gatherings and events of all kinds, but with a particular focus towards the alternative wedding market, complete with its very own secret bridal suite for the newlyweds.
STACK Seaburn will be built from shipping containers that are assembled to make an enclosed village that can operate in all weather conditions and will stand on disused land opposite the seafront promenade.
Neill Winch, CEO of Danieli Holdings said:“The intention, which is the same as STACK in Newcastle, is to offer something for everyone. We know we can create a welcoming hub of activity and a place where you can have stacks of fun hanging out with friends, family, and even the dog, to enjoy tasty street food and drinks day and night.
"We aren’t just a landlord; we have a vested interest in making it a success for all of the independent operators who come on board. We are passionate about creating a container village community where independent businesses thrive and a place for people to work, play, socialise and share unique experiences.
“As I am from Sunderland, originally, this will be a great addition to Sunderland’s sea front, and something we are incredibly proud to be bringing to the area.”
Neil Hart, group managing director at Bradley Hall Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents said: “Sunderland is set to see some very exciting developments in the near future and, following this news, STACK Seaburn will become one of the flagship developments for the area. This is fantastic news for Sunderland, the wider North East economy and both local and national business who would benefit from being a part of this innovative and exciting new lifestyle hub.
“We are delighted to once again be involved in a STACK project following marketing the hugely successful Newcastle site. There has already been a great deal of interest in STACK Seaburn and we are eager to welcome a range of new tenants to this highly anticipated scheme.
“We are passionate about the North East’s changing landscape and its potential to be home to the best destinations in the country and continue champion our region.”
Danieli Holdings, the company behind Newcastle’s hugely successful STACK, submitted its applications for a leisure space, that plans to see it open to the public in the spring, 2020. The leisure operator has been working closely with the team at Sunderland City Council to advance its plans for the site. It is one of a number of operators that the council has successfully attracted to the area, with more announcements expected to follow.
Councillor Michael Mordey, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “STACK is a fantastic concept and we’re thrilled it has been given the green light today.
“Sunderland’s seaside is the jewel in its crown, but for some time, it has been an unpolished gem. There has been a significant effort made by the council to attract the investment that Seaburn requires and today’s announcement shows that hard work is starting to bear fruit.
“The arrival of STACK, alongside the significant investment we have already attracted in both Roker and Seaburn – with work like the landscaping along the seafront, the development of Pier Point and the restoration of the Pier, along with planned work to regenerate under-used and historic buildings along the Seaburn and Roker promenade - means that we are very quickly creating a place that will not only be hugely attractive to residents, but will become a magnet for visitors too.
“This is a very exciting part of a £1.5bn programme of investment that will transform our seaside, city centre and surrounding areas over the next decade.”
The development, which will come with a seven-and-a-half-year lease, is the first addition to Seaburn seafront to be announced, with more expected to follow.
Winch concluded: “We’re excited to be a part of the regeneration of Seaburn and look forward to the developers starting the work within the next few weeks.”
Planning has been approved, subject to the application being referred to the Secretary of State, due to the leisure and limited retail offer. This is standard procedure for this type of development.
