Decision day for leisure complex's major makeover in revamp plans

Plans for a major revamp of a city centre leisure complex are due to go before Sunderland councillors for decision next week.

- by Chris Binding

CGI images of how the revamped Sunniside Social complex could look upon completion.

Sunderland City Council's Planning and Highways Committee will discuss a council application for the future of the Sunniside Leisure buildings, a site recently re-branded as Sunniside Social.

The leisure complex has faced issues in recent years, with the collapse of the Empire Cinemas chain temporarily leaving Sunderland without a multiplex cinema, as well as several restaurant units sitting vacant.

However, Sunderland City Council recently bought the building and secured a new cinema operator Omniplex, as well as agreeing a multi-million pound plan to revive and improve the Sunniside leisure complex.