30/09/2026
In light of these recent reports of stripping out the NGC, our chair has written to the Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council
Good afternoon Mr Melia
As we’ve now reached the end of September I am writing to remind you that we have still have not received a response to our application for the NGC to be designated an Asset of Community Value, it now one month beyond the legal deadline.
What you describe as a standard determination period is, in fact, an eight week statutory deadline. The reasons given for delay are irrelevant to the process and the legitimate questions we have asked are unanswered. As you will not give a date as to when the decision will be made can you at least set out the time frame you expect your officers to work to when they are in receipt of the Genecon report, how long would you expect them to take to fully assess and make a decision?
Whilst we have to await your officers’ actions, the University continue their plans. Concerned members of the public are informing the campaign of their fears over the works they see being carried out in the NGC, including the stripping out of electrical fittings. We are worried that this amounts to demolition by stealth and seek reassurance that the intention is not to make the building internally beyond a state of repair and in effect demolish it from the inside outwards.
These actions have to be seen in the context of the October 2022 structural changes the University made to the main glass facade of the building without planning permission or building control. That resulted in a weakened structure and a panel of glass slipping out of position in October 2023 with the subsequent loss of business and costly repair bill.
The University has no planning permission to demolish and the Screening Opinion application was paused whilst the Secretary of State makes a determination over the application for a Certificate of Immunity and then the Listing application. We are also awaiting for the Article 4 Direction to be issued as was authorised by the full Council in March 2026. I would also remind you that we previously wrote to your officers to request the issuing of a Building Preservation Notice which would protect some of the building contents whilst democratic processes are applied.
In addition, North East MSA officers are currently organising a multi-agency meeting to discuss the future of glassmaking in Sunderland at the behest of Mayor Kim McGuinness.
Whilst so many procedures with potentially positive outcomes in the pipeline it would be encouraging to see you act to support our community campaign. I would be grateful if you could list the proactive steps the Council are taking to protect the NGC whilst its future is being decided using democratic processes, and indicate the time frame you expect your officers to work to in the completion of their statutory duties.
Kind regards
