Updating Holmeside for all

The £2.8m scheme to update the one-way system and bus priority route in Sunderland city centre is being examined at the City Council's Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 22 March.

Funding for the scheme consists of £1m from the City Council, regional transport funding of £1m and £0.88m from the national Transforming Cities Fund.

Buses would have priority along Holmeside through to Vine Place with a new gyratory system turning traffic from Holmeside onto Maritime Street. It would also create a new road link through the site of the former Peacock's store on to Brougham Street next to The Bridges shopping centre.

Maritime Street, Brougham Street and Waterloo Place would become one-way to create the clockwise gyratory system, returning traffic to Holmeside in an easterly direction.

Major improvements to the street scene on the south and west of the new Sunderland Station will also help create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. The works will help link the station with taxi ranks on Brougham Street, Blandford Street and the proposed multi-storey car park on Holmeside.

Works are already getting underway on the new-look Sunderland Station and a planning application for the changes to Maritime and Brougham streets has been lodged.

All the Holmeside and station improvements are part of the City Council's continuing commitment to the City Plan for a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland.

Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Claire Rowntree said: "In drawing up these proposals we have looked at where we can improve and increase accessibility and safety, and how we update and improve this busy district of the city centre for residents, visitors and businesses.

"It's about reducing congestion, giving buses more priority and improving their journey time and reliability, and enhancing how pedestrians use this part of the city centre, especially bus passengers.

"As a listening council, we're very aware of what residents and businesses tell us and, working closely with partners locally and nationally, we are investing in our city centre and working very hard to make us a 21st century city.

"The improvements in and around Holmeside are very much part of this bigger picture that is making Sunderland a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant city for everyone."

Consultation took place through January and has received support from stakeholders, businesses and residents. Subject to further permissions and legal notices on the traffic changes, works could begin in coming months.