Store could be demolished in station revamp

Sunderland's former Littlewoods building is currently occupied by Poundland

A former department store could be demolished under plans to revamp a city's railway station.

The ex-Littlewoods building, now occupied by Poundland, may be redeveloped as part of work on Sunderland Station's new north entrance, the BBC understands.

Council leader Graeme Miller said how the plans "will look" is still to be "confirmed" and subject to government funding.

A £27m entrance at the south end of the station reopened to the public last week after being rebuilt.

It was part of a wider plan to regenerate the station, which is used by National Rail and Tyne and Wear Metro passengers.

Long-term proposals include the redevelopment of buildings at the northern end of the station, which are above the rail lines.

The number of physical platforms could be expanded from two to four.

The new south entrance of the station opened to the public earlier this month

Labour council leader Graeme Miller said further redevelopment of the station - which could cost about £70m - was subject to receiving financial backing from the government.

“Redeveloping the northern entrance has always been an integral part of our plans to completely transform the station," he said.

"This is a phased approach, but we – as a council – are driving this and mobilising partners and unlocking funding to enable progress to be made."

He said, if funding is approved, that a new north entrance would eventually replace the recently rebuilt south entrance as the station's "primary access point".

He added the council would "ensure that we deliver a station that reflects the ambition of our ever-transforming city.”

Business owner Gerard Purvis said the city "deserved" a regenerated railway station

Traders in the city said the station’s facilities needed to be upgraded throughout.

Shop owner Gerard Purvis said the completion of the new entrance was "a great start" but there was a need for a more "fit for purpose" and complete station to attract more people to the area.

Mr Purvis, who runs nearby Port Independent, said: "It's what the city deserves to make it feel like a proper, fully-fledged city.

"The state that the station was in it just didn’t meet the expectations of what you would expect."

The current northern entrance of Sunderland Station

Conservative councillor Dominic McDonough said he was aware of the suggestion to demolish the former Littlewoods department store.

He said regeneration of that area was "important" as it was the closest part of the station to the new Vaux development, which will include hundreds of homes and an eye infirmary.

The current north entrance was "very old and ugly", he added.

Network Rail, which runs the station’s infrastructure, said plans were still in the early stages of development.

Poundland was approached for comment.