Sunderland's former Joplings store bought by council

Jopling House, in Sunderland, is now used as student accommodation

The site of a former department store that traded for more than 200 years has been bought by the council.

Sunderland City Council has completed the purchase of Jopling House, which is currently used as student housing.

Joplings moved into the building in 1954 but shut in 2010 with the loss of 100 jobs. The council said the building was vital to the city's regeneration.

Refurbishment plans include improvements to attract retail and food outlets to its ground-floor units.

Meanwhile, work will be carried out on the upper floors, and to its external fascia, which the council said had been left unfinished by the previous owner.

However, the council said there were no plans to change its main use from student accommodation.

"We cannot buy or develop every single building in the city centre," said Kevin Johnston, the council's dynamic city cabinet member.

"But what we can do is nurture an environment in which our traders are given the best possible chance of success."

The former Joplings store closed down in 2010

The council is regenerating the surrounding area following the redevelopment of the riverside and creation of new homes and office space nearby.

Mr Johnston said it remained "important" the building attracted "the right kind and level of ongoing investment" in the city.

He said: "We will look to drive investment that will regenerate its ground floor, creating a vibrant high street that complements the transformation underway on the doorstep.

"We're determined that Riverside Sunderland is a stimulus for a whole-city-centre regeneration and that we connect surrounding areas into it."

The unit was turned into student accommodation, along with 140 bedrooms, several years ago.

The Joplings brand, which was owned by Liverpool-based Vergo, folded after attempts to find a buyer failed.