The city centre enjoyed the boom years and many shops thrived having
been established to cater for the large numbers of people who swelled
Sunderland's population in the 19th century, many of them dependent on
the prosperity created by the twin industries of shipping and
coalmining. The decline and then closure of the city's two main
industries in the latter stages of the 20th century the shipyards on
the River Wear and the collieries meant the city centre needed a
revamp in order to survive.
One of the major responses was the opening of The Bridges Shopping
Centre several years ago, the first of its type in the city.
Sunderland is one of the fastest changing cities in the UK with the
City Centre at its core, it offers an excellent mix of opportunities
for shopping, leisure, sport and culture. The City Centre has
undergone a major £200 million transformation.
Major new developments
such as the award-winning Park Lane Interchange, the Bridges Shopping
Centre expansion and the Metro system, are helping to put Sunderland
on the map. This £100 million scheme has extended the Metro line to
Sunderland through the City Centre as far as South Hylton. The Metro
started running in early 2002 bringing many more people to
Sunderland's revitalised City Centre.
This is Sunderland's way of fighting back to attract shoppers in the
face of opposition from two of the north east's premier attractions.
Newcastle city centre, which millions of pounds has been spent, and
the Gateshead Metro Centre both offer a varied service but Sunderland
are holding their own. Sunderland is a city that's easy to enjoy no
matter what time of year you visit. An upbeat city centre is emerging
with The Bridges shopping centre doubled in size, all glass covered
with a no smoking policy, so it's clean and friendly for everyone and
it's climatically controlled, an added bonus as the harsh winds whip
in off the nearby North Sea.
The Bridges, which has undergone extensive refurbishment since its
opening, offers a range of big names, high street names like Marks &
Spencer, Littlewoods, BHS, Debenhams and Boots are among many which
can be found in the city centre streets along with local firms of
great repute. None has a more respected name than the Joplings
department store in John Street, which can point to a long and proud
history in Sunderland and still remains popular today.
Security has proved a major selling point for the city and the St
Mary's car park in St Mary's Way has been voted the safest in the
country thanks to a series of measures to protect car and shopper
alike from crime.
