The University of Sunderland has moved to the next stage of its long-term redevelopment plans, with governors now exploring whether to consolidate its operations onto a single site in the city centre. Following a public consultation that began in October 2025, the university’s Board of Governors agreed in March 2026 to proceed with a formal feasibility study to review the future of its current estate.
The university, which currently operates from the City Campus and the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s, is considering whether to bring its facilities together into one location or maintain its existing two-campus model. This review is part of the broader University City Masterplan, which aims to adapt to changing student needs, evolving technology, and the current financial climate in higher education.
As a significant local employer, the institution supports over 4,000 jobs in Sunderland. The proposed masterplan is being developed in coordination with civic partners, including Sunderland City Council, as part of an effort to ensure the university remains an anchor for the region’s economy and regeneration. The feasibility study will focus on creating a more connected campus that encourages community collaboration while continuing to provide high-quality teaching.
This planning process is running alongside a wider 250 million pound, ten-year investment programme intended to transform facilities across the university’s various sites. These discussions come during a period of transition for the institution, which includes the planned closure of the National Glass Centre at the St Peter’s site in the summer of 2026 due to high repair costs. Glass-making operations are expected to move to a new facility, Glassworks, in Sunniside by 2028.
The University and College Union has been involved in discussions regarding the university’s recent restructuring and staffing changes. As the masterplan develops, university leadership, including Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Sir David Bell KCB and Chair of the Board of Governors Mark Burdon, continue to oversee the process. The university expects to receive the findings of the current feasibility study in the autumn of 2026.
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