DPP’s Newcastle Office has been awarded ‘Best Project’ at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s North East Planning Excellence Awards 2025 for the third year in a row.
The winning entry showcased the new footbridge and Maker & Faber office buildings which form a key part of the ongoing Riverside Sunderland regeneration masterplan. As one of the UK’s most ambitious urban regeneration projects, Riverside Sunderland exemplifies excellence in economic development, seamlessly integrating placemaking, sustainability, and strategic infrastructure investment.
The new 250 metre long, 10 metre wide, pedestrian and cycle bridge sits at the core of the Masterplan and will significantly enhance connectivity between north and south Sunderland. The new bridge will increase accessibility and footfall between the city centre and Sheepfolds and will promote active forms of travel, providing safe pedestrian and cycle only infrastructure to remove the reliance of the car to gain access to the city. It will connect the newly created communities across Riverside Sunderland, boosting retail, hospitality, and cultural venues in the city, aligning with Sunderland’s Net Zero policies, reinforcing long-term sustainability.
Maker & Faber, is a major office development derived from a successful public/private partnership. Legal & General’s £100m investment nearly doubles the office space in Riverside Sunderland, which will attract new businesses and position thousands of jobs within Sunderland City Centre. Maker & Faber provide modern, high-performance workspaces, supported by cutting-edge 5G and low-carbon networks, enhancing the city’s digital and environmental infrastructure. Sustainability is paramount, with Maker & Faber achieving BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings.
As the winner of the regional award, the projects have also been put forward in the Successful Economy category for the RTPI National Awards, with the shortlist to be announced in October.
Speaking about the award, Kayleigh Dixon, Director at DPP said:
“The transformation in and around Sunderland Riverside over the past few years is incredible and DPP are proud to have played a part in the wider regeneration alongside a talented design team. The Maker and Faber office and new footbridge demonstrate an excellent example of public and private sector collaborative working and we look forward to seeing the opening of the footbridge in Summer 2025”.
Image Credits: Simon Williams, The Royal Town Planning Institute and Riverside Sunderland
