There is a real chance of this kind of thing happening IMO. It has happened elsewhere. Anyone turning up to Sunderland in a year's time and who was last there only two or three years ago will get a serious shock. A good one! The big thing here is that this is not just one thing being plonked somewhere and lets hope it helps . The improvement is spread out, greatly improving the City itself, and it's chances of more investment and improvement. I think they call it a plan. Someone wants a pat on the back.
Are all of these projects being advertised and highlighted well within the region? I don't live in the North East anymore so only find out about this stuff here really but this stuff could create a real buzz about Sunderland if it's promoted well.
With all the new developments going on now (the Legal and General development behind City Hall, the train station, housing on Vaux etc), plus the proposed future ones (the new library, Eye hospital, footbridge, indoor arena etc.) upwards of £500 million, over half a billion quid, is getting spent on Sunderland city centre. It's the biggest urban redevelopment project in the country since the centre of Manchester was redeveloped after the IRA bombing, yet the local news never mention it. Is there an agenda they want to push, or are they so cheap they can't afford the bus fares to come out of Newcastle??
Correct. And 'twas ever thus. They only have to do so much as paint a lamp post in Grainger Street for Look Newcastle or Tyne Tyne TV to do a ten minute special on it.
As far as I know the City Hall is a pfi type deal, with other tenants such as DWP paying rent to the council , which in turn helps to pay the Pfi bill. At the end of, I think 20 years, the council will own the building out right , so a bit like a mortgage, with a maintenance contract attached. The others are privately funded with assistance from regional development funding, or by the NHS in the case of the Eye Infirmary. I am not certain about the Culture House project , that could well be a pfi type deal as well. The housing is self financing and should fund the development of the riverside park.
It was just a bit of fun man, made me laugh when I read it even though I knew it was autocorrect. I did compliment your post tbf.
Yet more positive news for the city. No doubt the anti council mob will find fault with this but they will never be happy.