As Sunderland continues to evolve as a modern, dynamic city, we sit down with Patrick Melia to reflect on the major successes of 2024 and uncover what lies ahead for the city.
From transformative infrastructure projects to sustainable growth and digital innovation, Melia shares insights into the council’s ambitious plans for 2025 and beyond – and what they mean for the people of Sunderland.
We are reaching the end of 2024. Reflecting on the year so far, what would you say are some of Sunderland City Council’s key achievements or milestones?
Sunderland has become a national poster child for urban regeneration over the past 12 months and there is a growing sense that this is Sunderland’s time.
We’ve been able to gain real momentum in the city’s ongoing transformation, despite a challenging external landscape, by showing unwavering civic leadership and taking brave decisions that have given investors the confidence to back us.
The head of steam created by our energy and ambition has allowed us to attract private sector investment into Sunderland that will yield further incredible results for our residents and businesses.
There are too many individual projects to mention as key highlights – from the Riverside Sunderland site, to our 20-year partnership with Boldyn Networks to unlock the city’s potential through digital innovation and, of course, the £450 million film studio plans, which will bring more than 8,000 new regional jobs. The bottom line is that this is a city transforming and we are connecting the opportunities we’re generating with our residents to ensure we reap maximum reward.
Thinking about personal highlights, is there a particular project or initiative you are especially proud of?
I am immensely proud of our work around digital connectivity in Sunderland, because it touches every facet of our community.
Ensuring that all corners of the city are digitally connected opens up a new world to people and businesses here. We have agreed a 20-year deal with Boldyn Networks and we’re committed to rolling out world-class connectivity from Washington to the coalfields, which will unlock significant technological capabilities that could transform every community.
In schools, enhanced internet access will enable teachers to deliver education in new and exciting ways, inspiring our young people and unlocking their enormous potential. At home, we can use the same connectivity to power assistive technology that will support our most vulnerable residents.
In business, we are using smart technology to do all kinds of things from powering autonomous vehicles, that could make organisations like Nissan even more efficient, to supporting businesses to more effectively capture and utilise data. The power of technology is absolutely huge and we are ready to unlock it in Sunderland for the benefit of everyone.
Have there been any unique challenges this year that the council has had to work hard to address? How has it adapted and what lessons have been learned?
The macro-economic climate is challenging, with war in Europe, market uncertainty and key sectors for the city impacted heavily by changing consumer habits. It’s a really unique landscape and I think the key thing in my mind is that we diversify our economy as a city, ensuring we are not reliant on one industry, but that we have lots of vibrant and rewarding career pathways for our people in an array of sectors.
The film studios are just one example of our proactive work as a city to attract new opportunities for people and businesses, but the work we are doing to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI), inward investment and indigenous business growth, in everything from professional services to hospitality, means we will be less exposed in the future.
And I think everyone’s aware of the unrest and disorder experienced in a number of places throughout the country, including Sunderland, in early August, in the wake of the tragic event in Southport.
We are very clear that the disorder in no way represents or defines Sunderland and the vast majority of residents are extremely proud of their city, as demonstrated by the overwhelming community response in the days following.
The actions of a minority have not remotely diminished our ambitions for the city or affected stakeholder and investor confidence. We are focused on the fact that the next key step in Sunderland’s transformation journey will be ensuring we are engaging with all our residents and communities and they feel connected to the opportunities being created.
Sunderland has been recognised for its sustainability and environmental initiatives. Can you share the next steps in the city’s sustainability journey as we look towards 2025 and beyond?
We are absolutely committed to a low carbon future and this is reflected in the fact that, just last month, we were named by WWF as one of the cities leading the global effort to combat climate change.
Green jobs will be fundamental to achieving our sustainability goals and, in practice, that means we have to develop the skilled people we will need in the future.
That’s where new developments like the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) come in – a multi-million-pound college campus in Riverside Sunderland where people will learn to build new homes using modern methods of construction.
There will also be a heavy focus on retrofitting to ensure people leave with the ability to build sustainable new communities.
And, of course, we are seeing more of our existing businesses becoming greener. Nissan’s 36Zero EV Hub is a great example of the power of collaboration in driving a more sustainable city. We have partnered with Nissan and AESC, who are building a new car-making eco-system that will see Sunderland claim its place at the heart of the global drive towards electrification.
Add to that significant new council-led projects to maximise digital opportunities and drive efficiency and developments on new infrastructure, like our plans to develop a new energy centre and a range of engagement with businesses to ensure we support them as they transition – including through specific grants that allow businesses to invest in making their premises greener – and we really are surging forward with our low carbon plans as a city.
With continued efforts to attract business investment in the region, what new developments or industries do you see playing a significant role in Sunderland’s future growth?
Sunderland has a strong track record when it comes to foreign direct investment and indeed inward investment into the city. Our business investment team is extremely proactive already and, now, in partnership with the inward investment gateway for the whole of the North East, that sits within the new North East Combined Authority, we expect to be even more successful in attracting new businesses and industries into Sunderland.
This city has an enviable record of not only attracting existing businesses to locate here, but of growing our own – and that’s key to our success. A blend of supporting start-ups and attracting existing businesses who have ambitions to grow in Sunderland is critical and, of course, with the launch of a new venture capital programme via a dedicated Venture Sunderland fund, managed by Northstar, we are making our offer even more compelling.
Add into the mix the availability of high-quality office and commercial space and a great lifestyle offer in a rapidly changing city, and it’s clear to see why so many people are looking at Sunderland and saying “it’s the city’s time”.
The headline economic driver at the moment is the incredible film studio plans with Fulwell 73. Crown Works Studios, which will be delivered as a joint venture with Cain International, will create many thousands of jobs and bring a new and exciting industry to the city and region.
This is game-changing for Sunderland and life-changing for residents, who will benefit in so many different ways from this development. It’s hard to overemphasise the impact this will have for generations to come.
Sunderland’s infrastructure has seen significant growth this year. What are the current or upcoming infrastructure projects that you believe will have the most impact on the city’s future?
There are almost too many to mention. Riverside Sunderland is our flagship development and it will transform our city centre, creating 1,000 new homes, 1 million square feet of office space and fantastic new facilities – from leisure amenities to health hubs like the new Eye Hospital.
The bridge will also be absolutely critical in connecting both parts of the river. But look beyond the city centre and we have thousands of new homes being developed in attractive communities across the city. This will help thousands of people, who may previously have been forced to move elsewhere, to secure a suitable family home in the city.
We have a gigafactory taking shape near Nissan – the city’s second electric battery plant. We have seen our seafront transformed. Every corner of the city is changing. This has to be the most exciting period of change in Sunderland’s history – certainly in living memory. It’s wonderful to be playing a part in that.
How is the council addressing social issues like housing, health and employment to ensure inclusive growth across Sunderland?
Our city plan is all about tackling these issues holistically and in partnership. Housing, health and employment are symbiotic and securing an improvement in one area can directly lead to better outcomes in others.
We have positive, proactive and innovative plans in all areas and we’re leveraging strong collaboration with the Government, the new Combined Authority and the private sector, as well as our anchor institutions like the college and university, as well as the voluntary and community sector to tackle these challenges head on.
We know we can’t do this on our own – and the collaboration we are driving is key to success. Whether it’s our programme of social prescribing in the community, our work to be a smart city which will enable us to embed technology in a way that leaves nobody behind, or our strategy to create more high-quality work opportunities for people, it’s all about proactivity.
What role do you see digital transformation and smart city technologies playing in the future of Sunderland – and how is the council positioning the city for these changes?
These are fundamental pillars of our work. Sunderland was named the UK’s Smartest City in 2020 and shortlisted for World Smart City of the Year 2023, owed to its adoption of technology and digital infrastructure, and our partnership with Boldyn is allowing us to realise endless use cases that will position us as a leading-edge place to live, work and play.
The partnership we have formed with Boldyn will see us rolling out the best soft infrastructure – including our own 5G network – and this enhanced connectivity will be utilised in ways that will position Sunderland perfectly in the years ahead.
We are taking the steps now to deliver in the future. That means up-front investment, but also long-term partnerships like our 20-year partnership with Boldyn to secure a delivery partner who can be with us on the journey to becoming a digitally transformed city.
Can you share any exciting projects or collaborations that are in the pipeline for cultural and community enrichment in Sunderland?
We are developing an exciting stream of work as a council that will focus on community cohesion and engendering a sense of pride and belief in the city among our communities. We know that people are our greatest assets and, with that, we want to ensure that they feel connected to Sunderland – to their transforming city. And to each other – that we build stronger, more resilient communities.
As we move forward with a programme of regeneration, ensuring people from here know that this bright future is for them is an important area of focus. We will soon have new assets for people to enjoy – Culture House for instance, which will open next year – and we have an exciting events programme that builds on the city’s reputation as a brilliant place to visit.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, what is the council’s main goal for Sunderland’s future?
It’s very much a case of the city continuing to drive forward with its ambitious delivery plans for 2025. Many of the projects already underway in the city will complete in 2025 – and many more will begin. The change in Sunderland is already remarkable – and there’s plenty more to come.
