City's pavilion plans get the go-ahead

The pavilion structure at Keel Square in Sunderland will be used for Expo Sunderland events

Plans for a pavilion structure and exhibition space in the heart of Sunderland have been approved.

The scheme will create a focal point at Keel Square and is intended to serve as an exhibition space for Expo Sunderland, a series of events celebrating innovation and ambition in the city taking place up to 2026.

The plans, submitted by the city council’s regeneration company Siglion earlier this year, will see the current large digital screen at Keel Square replaced with a temporary transparent structure set in a metal frame.

The pavilion is to be open to visitors in the summer, hosting exhibitions and showcasing local talent and innovation, along with a viewing platform.

The structure will be in place for two years and is partly intended to obscure the construction activity associated with Culture House - a new city-centre attraction.

It will also include screens offering visual displays, with some appearing 3D due to the translucent material used, as well as having the potential to live stream content from around the world.

'Promote the city'

Councillor Ciaran Morrissey said the project would be “good for the city”, while Councillor Iain Scott added it would be a positive addition to Keel Square and “clearly benefit” Expo Sunderland.

The council committee's report said the proposal would “help to promote the city as a tourism and leisure destination” and support “the aims of the Sunderland Business Improvement District”.

The project has funding support from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 5G Innovation Regions Grant.

Planning permission for the advertising screens linked to the pavilion will be decided under a separate application at a future date, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.