Plans submitted to create city glassmaking hub

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

Sunderland Culture has put forward a blueprint to renovate the Wearside city’s former Peter Smith’s Antiques building.

Officials say the venture will create a “reimagined, future-facing, community-driven centre of excellence that will safeguard world-class glassmaking”.

Known as Glassworks: Sunderland, they add the endeavour will write a new chapter in Wearside’s 1350-year glassmaking history by superseding the city’s soon-to-close National Glass Centre.

Set to provide space for all disciplines of glassmaking and ceramics presently available at the National Glass Centre, the new space is also earmarked to feature areas for public activities, offices and maker studios.

The building – in the city’s Sunniside area – could open in 2028, with council planning chiefs due to decide on the proposals later this year.

Tom Billington, Sunderland Culture chair, said: “Glassworks is not a replacement for the National Glass Centre; there will be no café or galleries.

“Glassworks is a critical intervention to retain skills, talent and production capacity in Sunderland.”

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

Nick Malyan, Sunderland Culture chief executive, added: “Glassworks will support makers through access to facilities, shared resources, routes to market, commissions, business support and professional development. 

“Our aim is that Glassworks will build a larger and more resilient maker ecosystem.”

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