Plans progress to create city glassmaking hub

Plans to transform an ex-collectibles house into a multi-million-pound glassmaking hub have moved forward.

Sunderland City Council has backed a blueprint to renovate the former Peter Smith’s Antiques building.

Bosses say the move will prepare the Sunniside site for future occupation as a glassmaking “centre of excellence”.

Led by Sunderland Culture, they add the venture – known as the Glassworks: Sunderland project – will add a new chapter in the city’s 1350-year glassmaking history.

Renovations including roofing, window, masonry, mechanical and electrical upgrades are now set to take place on the 1882 structure, backed by a £2.4 million UK Shared Prosperity Grant via the North East Combined Authority.

Work is earmarked for completion by March 2026.

Councillor Kevin Johnston, Sunderland City Council’s portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business, said: “This is a fantastic step forward in our aim to restore a key heritage building to enable further investment.

“We’re pleased to have been able to secure funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to carry out works that will enable this important building to be preserved, and we’re buoyed by plans to preserve glassmaking in the city.

“Glassmaking is a centuries-old skill that Sunderland is incredibly proud of, and we look forward to preparing this building for future use and working with Sunderland Culture.” 

Sunderland Culture previously secured £5 million from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to progress plans for Glassworks: Sunderland.

Nick Malyan, Sunderland Culture chief executive, added: “This is another exciting step towards the creation of a new creative hub in Sunniside.

“It will allow generations of glassmakers to continue to create in Sunderland.”

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