Committee backs glass centre replacement plan

The Peter Smith Antiques building dates back to 1882 and needs significant repairs

Councillors have backed plans for a new glassmaking facility, despite concerns from campaigners.

Glassworks Sunderland, in the former Peter Smith Antiques building, is proposed to replace the National Glass Centre (NGC), which is set to close next year over unaffordable repair costs.

Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors used "call-in" powers to temporarily block the plans amid concerns over the location of the new hub.

They had stepped in after Labour-run Sunderland City Council agreed to spend £2.4m on repairs to the replacement building in July, but a scrutiny committee backed the cabinet's decision on the funding.

All Labour councillors on the panel voted in favour and the two opposition representatives voted against.

Campaigners from Save the National Glass Centre had previously raised fears over the safety of the proposed building, as well as worries the project would run out of money.

There are also concerns whether glassmakers will stick around in the city until the replacement's planned opening in 2028.

'Doomed to fail'

At the meeting on Thursday, council leader Michael Mordey said the cabinet decision would make the Peter Smith Antiques site "watertight, safe and secure", so it could be "successfully repurposed".

But Paul Edgeworth, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said they were not "convinced" a "viable" glassmaking facility could be built there.

He also said glassmakers were "very unlikely to be able or willing to return" to the future facility, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I think without guarantees on these issues, councillors should not be approving the spending of public money on a project which could be doomed to fail from the very start," Edgeworth said.

The National Glass Centre is set to close in July

Conservative group leader Antony Mullen said it seemed "the council had a building in search of a purpose, rather than a purpose-built building" and NGC glassmakers had not been consulted on the design.

"If the specialist fit out of the new building proves to be problematic or the architecture design stage costs more, where is the money coming from to pay for those?" Mullen asked.

Campaigner Nigel Taylor has said the funding for Glassworks might not be enough

Nigel Taylor, from the campaign group to save the NGC, raised concerns around the project funding.

"It's just not the right building, it's not in the right place and we need to look at refurbishing the National Glass Centre," Mr Taylor said.

"We're going to put it down in a building that is totally unsuitable and it will be nothing like what we've got, we've really got to fight to try and keep it where it is."

Mordey said the delivery of the project was down to Sunderland Culture, which was also in charge of the designs and the business model for the site.

He added the cabinet decision was "not specific to the delivery of the Glassworks Sunderland project" - and the council would still benefit from the £2.4m UK Shared Prosperity Grant, even if Sunderland Culture backed out.

'Deep disappointment'

A spokesperson for the Save the National Glass Centre campaign group said it expressed "deep disappointment" at the scrutiny committee's decision, noting its "concerns remain unanswered" around the project.

Plans have not yet been submitted for the site but design work and the submission of a planning application is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Nick Malyan, chief executive of Sunderland Culture, previously said it was an "exciting step" and it would allow generations of glassmakers to continue to create in the city.