Car parks and roads shut as development work starts

Two car parks in a city centre are to close as the construction of a housing development begins.

The car park near Hay Street and the car park opposite St Peter's Metro Station in Sunderland will shut from Monday as works start to transform the Sheepfolds Industrial Estate near the Stadium of Light.

Roads and on-street car parking within the Sheepfolds neighbourhood would also shut from Monday for the delivery of major drainage, site remediation and groundworks, the local authority said.

Sunderland City Council said it planned to set up a temporary 186-space car park off Millennium Way in spring 2027.

There are plans for hundreds of homes near the stadium.

Motorists accessing the Sheepfolds Stables, the Stadium of Light, the British E Sports Arena or the Housing and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) would need to travel via North Bridge Street and Millennium Way, or Kier Hardie Way and Millennium Way, the local authority said.

It advised pedestrians coming from St Peter's Metro Station to do the same, with pedestrian and cycle access still available through the Keel Crossing.

The closures were expected to remain in place beyond 2027, the council said.

Councillor James Jackson said the authority recognised "these changes would result in some disruption for those who regularly use these car parks which is why we have submitted plans for a temporary replacement off Millenium Way".

Earlier in October, Sunderland City Council applied for permission from its own planning department to build a car park at the Sheepfolds Industrial Estate near the Stadium of Light.

A consultation is expected to take place before a decision is made on the car park.

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