en.Wedoany.com Reported - Esh Construction has delivered two major projects for Sunderland City Council, marking significant progress in the ongoing Riverside Sunderland regeneration plan. Implemented in partnership with Sunderland City Council, the projects have transformed key areas of the city's riverside environment, improving connectivity, enhancing public spaces, and supporting Sunderland's long-term development vision.
In the Sheepfolds area, Esh completed public realm works around the Stadium of Light and Sheepfolds Stables, constructing high-quality pedestrian infrastructure to strengthen links between the city centre, the Stadium of Light, and the wider Sheepfolds development zone. Esh also completed its work at Riverside Park, a major new green space delivered as part of the broader Riverside Sunderland masterplan, where Southern Gateway and Kingsley Gardens have been transformed. The Southern Gateway public space connects the Farringdon Row community and the Riverside multi-storey car park, linking to the new Sunderland Strategic Eye Hospital, the Vaux residential development, and the central business district.
Steven Garrigan, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, stated that the completion of the Sheepfolds public realm works and Riverside Park marks another proud milestone for Esh in Sunderland and reinforces its long-term commitment to supporting the city's regeneration ambitions. Although these projects are very different in nature, they share a common goal: creating high-quality places that enhance connectivity, celebrate local heritage, and deliver lasting benefits for the community. Together, they demonstrate how investment in public spaces and green infrastructure can support wider regeneration and help attract people to live, work, and relax in the city.
A central feature of the Sheepfolds project is a new pedestrian footbridge over the site's historic cobbled carriageway. The works included restoring this former industrial route while integrating it as a modern, accessible pathway, providing a direct link between the Stadium of Light, Sheepfolds Stables, and Keel Square, with access to the city centre. In addition to the footbridge, the project improved walking and cycling routes by installing natural stone paving, new trees, and landscaping, along with key infrastructure—including Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)—to support future development phases.
The Sheepfolds site was temporarily opened during the summer to help manage crowds for the 2026 Women's Rugby World Cup, offering visitors an early experience of the improved public space. A few minutes' walk from Sheepfolds across the River Wear, located between the Riverside multi-storey car park and the new Sunderland Strategic Eye Hospital, Southern Gateway includes a new park entrance, attractive landscaped spaces, a pond, and social areas designed to boost biodiversity and encourage public use. Kingsley Gardens has been developed into a community growing space, providing opportunities for healthy living and social interaction. With both sites now handed back to Sunderland City Council, the focus is on preparing these new spaces for public use in the coming weeks.
Councillor James Jackson, Portfolio Holder for Business, Housing, and Regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said it is fantastic to see the completion of the next phase of work at Riverside Sunderland, which will witness the opening of the first phase of a stunning new city park and further enhance the area around Sheepfolds and the Stadium of Light. In the coming months and years, Riverside Sunderland will see hundreds of new homes, a national esports arena, and new retail and leisure units emerge, and the completion of these key infrastructure projects marks the latest milestone in the city's ongoing transformation.
Through these projects, Esh reinvested £2.5 million into the local economy via supply chain spending and generated additional social value through local employment, apprenticeship opportunities, and community initiatives. Two Sunderland apprentices worked on these projects, and the team also supported a council-led Riverside clean-up operation. Esh additionally donated £2,000, £750, and £250 to Expo Sunderland, Hopewood Park, and the children's charity Love, Amelia, respectively. The completion of these projects further consolidates Sunderland's growing reputation as a destination for investment, leisure, and entertainment, while supporting the wider regeneration of the riverside area for future generations.
