Sunderland riverside scheme takes shape

A new riverside housing development is taking shape in Sunderland city centre, with prospective buyers now able to register their interest in its first homes.

The Maxim at Vaux will bring 34 two and three-bedroom homes to the banks of the River Wear as part of the wider Riverside Sunderland regeneration programme.

The first collection, comprising ten terraced houses and eight maisonettes, is expected to be ready for residents to move into in early 2027.

A further 16 properties, based on developer igloo’s award-winning Home of 2030 designs, are due to follow in autumn 2027.

The designs were developed through a national competition focused on creating greener, more flexible homes suited to changing lifestyles.

Properties at The Maxim will feature air-source heat pumps, solar panels and whole-house ventilation alongside large windows designed to increase natural light.

Michelle Williams, project director at igloo, said: “The Maxim is truly unlike any other development for sale in Sunderland right now – it’s urban living, but not as you know it. 

“As a part of Vaux, it’s on the site of one of the city’s most iconic places and it’s been important to us that we honour that history. 

“For us, creating homes starts with understanding the place you’re working in and making sure new developments build on the character that’s already there.  

“From the homes themselves to the landscaped spaces between them, The Maxim is built on a philosophy of forming a strong sense of joy and community, which is so important to our wellbeing. 

“We passionately believe that better homes build better cities and we can’t wait to welcome our first residents in 2027.” 

The scheme marks the first residential phase of Vaux, a new neighbourhood being developed close to City Hall and the recently opened Keel Bridge.

Its name draws on the history of the former Vaux Brewery site and Double Maxim beer, which was originally brewed there before the brewery closed in 1999.

The development is being delivered in collaboration with MawsonKerr Architects and Openstudio Architects.

It is part-funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Sunderland City Council and forms part of the wider transformation of the city’s riverside, which is bringing new homes, workplaces and public spaces to the area.

Jan Dale, igloo’s North East sales lead, added: “Sunderland is changing, and its residential offer is evolving with it. 

“This is exactly where igloo brings something different to the market. 

“The Maxim is not simply new homes; it forms part of a carefully considered neighbourhood designed around people, place and the future of the city. 

“The combination of contemporary design, sustainability, wellbeing and a genuinely central location will appeal to a new generation of Sunderland homeowners and help strengthen the city’s residential proposition.” 

Prospective homeowners can register their interest for pricing, availability and viewing updates at www.themaximvaux.com or contact Urban Base, the sales agents. 

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