Sunderland police station to transform into city hub

The abandoned Gilbridge police station near Keel Square is set to undergo a renovation after a North East company won the bid to purchase it. 

The Hanro Group are a property investment and development group who have recently bought the police station after Sunderland County Council cabinet signed off plans on February 11th. 

A spokesperson from Sunderland BID said: “The recent news of Gilbridge Police Station’s transformation is another great success for Sunderland.”

“We look forward to seeing how Hanro transforms such an iconic site, which we’re sure will play an integral part in the regeneration of the city and new Riverside Quarter.”

Image: Sunderland City Council

The property has been closed since Northumbria Police left the premises in 2015. It is now set to become a business hub. 

Adam Serfontein, managing director of The Hanro Group, said: “The building is rather iconic and it’s prime position, opposite the Riverside Sunderland development, means that there is a great opportunity to complement the offer of this emerging location by adding flexible suites in an attractive “hub” environment. Our ambition is to provide a facility to attract growth business and foster the SME sector”.

Hanro have said that they plan to make it into an open, modern office space and that it will undergo an internal and external refurbishment. 

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Hanro has a proven track record as an investor, having quietly gone about its business in the city and delivered excellent developments for many years.  

“We are looking forward to seeing the company quickly breathe new life into this building.  Hanro is absolutely ready to go with its plans; the team wants to get this development moving, which is critical to us – we need regeneration to happen with pace and endeavour in Sunderland and backing the sale of this building to a company primed to deliver will enable that.”

This is in addition to other new developments set to happen in Sunderland such as STACK coming to Seaburn and the Mackie’s Corner renovation.

Graeme Miller added: “The rate of transformation over the road, on the former Vaux Brewery site, is phenomenal. It will soon be matched by change in and around Keel Square, with Hays Travel having undertaken its work to Gilbridge House, and the Auditorium, a new Holiday Inn Hotel and now Gilbridge all set to take shape.

It’s an exciting period and we’re determined to continue to ensure Sunderland is the most investable-city – a place with ambition and vision that investors can be part of.”

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