Published Date:
28 April 2010
By Kevin Clark
EXCLUSIVE
A major hotel, shopping and leisure development could create more than 800 jobs.
Roseberry Leisure wants to build an £8.5million 120-bedroom hotel, 90,000sq ft supermarket and 3,000-seater arena at the Rainton Bridge Business Park.
The plan would see the Rainton Meadows arena demolished and the supermarket built, with a three or four-star hotel and a new arena on a neighbouring plot.
The firm has been working with Newcastle-based Projekt Architects on plans for the project.
Managing director Michael Roseberry said it was envisaged the scheme would create 810 jobs – 210 during construction and 600 after completion, 338 of them part-time.
It was hoped the development would attract more investment in Rainton Bridge to complement npower’s decision to relocate 2,000 staff from its site in Newcastle.
“Potential occupiers may be put off by lack of facilities,” said Mr Roseberry. “Shops, food outlets and hotel accommodation are now regarded as essential elements in most business parks.”
The firm hopes to submit a formal planning application for the scheme to Sunderland City Council by the summer.
“We are crossing our fingers that the council will view our plans favourably,” said Mr Roseberry.
“There have already been preliminary discussions to put us on the right lines as to what would or would not be acceptable proposals.
“Naturally, our priority is that we are a business concern, but we feel the Sunderland area badly needs a modern new hotel of this standard.
“The proposed supermarket can provide a facility which would be appreciated by the people of Fence Houses, Hetton, Houghton, Penshaw, both East and West Rainton and Shiney Row.
“And the North East is in need of a purpose-built, state-of-the-art venue for concerts, conferences and shows which is not so vast that some people who go there get only a distant view.”
