Brims were successfully appointed as principal contractor on The Gilbridge Police Station refurbishment in Sunderland, also known as The Yard. Since 1972 this landmark building has been part of Sunderland’s main police station that served Wearside for decades before Northumbria Police vacated the premises in 2015.
The 3,000 sqm building was selected for redevelopment for some time, owing to its central location. In 2020, Hanro was confirmed as the preferred developer for the building after a competitive bidding process took place. A planning application was approved in 2021 to convert the premises to offices with proposed facilities such as fitness space for workers based within the workspace, as well as an open business lounge and bookable meeting rooms.
In March 2022 work began to transform the building into a multi-purpose office space that is to be named The Yard. The Yard’s development is the largest in a long line of positive investment announcements in and around Riverside Sunderland, which is being resurrected as a mixed-use urban quarter, where people will live, work and play.
In December 2022 Brims handed over the The Yard, providing 23,000 sq ft of office accommodation in the heart of the Riverside regeneration scheme.
Sharon Appleby, chief executive at the Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID), said: “The development of The Yard is set to be a great investment to the growing business district of Sunderland and will be an excellent facility for SME’s right in the heart of the city centre.
“This corner of Sunderland has been in need of a refresh for some time, and it is brilliant to see that it is finally getting that and is able to support Sunderland’s ever-expanding business hub.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with the team on our Gilbridge (renamed The Yard) project. Brims assisted us greatly with cost support prior to commencement of the project which was invaluable in determining feasibility.
John Wardropper has proved to be an invaluable Project Manager on this development. He runs an extremely tight ship and clearly commands respect from all subcontractors. John, coupled with Sean Spencer as Site Manager, are extremely obliging, and are always seeking to assist as best they possibly can.
As with most projects, it has not been without its issues, but John and the team have worked tirelessly to ensure that any delays are mitigated. We very much look forward to working with Brims on future projects”.
Laura Lloyd, Head of Portfolio, The Hanro Group