Seaburn Promenade: A reminder it's open and there's access

A programme of works are underway on the headland of the lower promenade beneath Cliffe Park and are due to complete in the autumn. Access is being maintained to businesses, including the popular Hideout Coffeehouse.

Works include replacing the promenade's tarmac surface which has suffered serious storm damage over recent winters. It is being replaced with tougher and longer-lasting aggregated concrete similar to other sections of the seafront. Summer is the best time to complete works with this material and also the safest. Alongside strengthening and surfacing, drainage improvement works have been underway.

A budget of £675,000 has been allocated for the works. Works were timetabled for the summer to lessen the risk of weather disruption and damage, and to keep the popular promenade open as much as possible. 

In total, 2,700 square metres of concrete, or more than half an acre (0.6 of an acre) is being laid.

The City Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Net Zero and Transport, Councillor Lindsey Leonard said: "Regulars and visitors to the lower promenade will have noticed the tarmac surface is deteriorating in condition and has been severely damaged over the last two winters.

"We all know it's in a very exposed location and while we've repaired it, especially after storms and heavy seas when large sections of the surface have been uplifted, cracked or even removed by wave damage, this tarmac is expensive to maintain.

"A better solution is to replace it with aggregated concrete. This concrete provides major improvements in terms of appearance and durability at this exposed location.

"The best time to do these works is over the summer when weather conditions are generally more favourable and the days are longer.

"It's still challenging work and we have timed and mapped out the works to minimise disruption. We'd remind all residents and visitors to please be patient and access is being maintained along the promenade, including access to the popular Hideout Coffeehouse.

"As a council, we more than recognise the importance of what our award-winning seafront means to our city and that includes maintaining, repairing and improving this precious asset, which is precisely what we are doing with these promenade works."

The City Council has in recent years invested more than £15m in seafront infrastructure, public spaces and other facilities. This regeneration work has attracted substantial private sector investment and the arrival of new businesses has helped make the seafront an even more popular destination for residents, plus regional and international visitors.

Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive of the Sunderland and Seafront BID, said: "We have an award-winning seafront with many attractions and it is continuing to attract new investment and business opportunities. Disruption is being kept to a minimum during the works however if there are businesses who have any further queries please contact us at the BID - info@sunderlandbid.co.uk "