Sunderland’s newest office building is set to be boosted by the arrival of a major new tenant.
Faber – one of two new L&G-backed buildings in Sunderland city centre – has announced that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be moving its team into the Riverside Sunderland property. Taking three of the five floors in the building, DWP is expected to relocate its team from Wear View House into Faber from April 2027.
The Government department has signed a long lease on 55,167sq ft of space in the building, which reached completion last year. Faber’s sister building, Maker, which stands next door, has already secured a lease agreement with online food order and delivery platform Just Eat, who moved in last December.
Mike Coplowe, Head of Commercial Development and Regeneration at L&G, said: “DWP’s move to the Faber office in Sunderland, alongside their recent move into our West Bar office in Sheffield, reflects the increasing importance of regional centres in supporting jobs and economic activity.
“Our multi-million investment in Sunderland is part of that broader commitment, backing the North East’s role in driving sustainable growth by attracting major employers, supporting high-quality development, and helping to create long-term opportunities for local communities and businesses across the region.”
Maker & Faber were designed by award-winning North East architects Ryder and represent the only speculative Grade A office development on the market in the region at this time. The buildings sit at the heart of Riverside Sunderland, widely regarded as one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration schemes, which is set to deliver 1m sq ft of office space in Sunderland city centre. The Riverside Sunderland masterplan has been led by Sunderland City Council, working with private-sector partners to deliver transformational change to a previously dormant site.
Councillor James Jackson, Cabinet Member for Business, Housing and Regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: “DWP’s move to Faber demonstrates clearly that the high-quality office environments we’re creating at Riverside Sunderland are a huge draw for businesses seeking grade A workspace at the heart of this transforming part of the city.
“A well-populated city centre, with housing and workspace drawing people in by day and night, will provide a boost to surrounding businesses, which in turn makes it a more attractive place for new investment, so developments like this are an important step forward in realising our vision.”
Development manager Landid oversaw the design and construction of the buildings on behalf of global institutional investor L&G. The offices form part of a £100m commitment L&G made to Riverside Sunderland.
James Silver, Managing Director at Landid, said: “We’re delighted to welcome DWP to Faber. This is a significant commitment that will sustain employment in the heart of Sunderland.
“Maker and Faber occupy a prime position, with incredible views over the river and out to sea, and fantastic places to enjoy right on the doorstep – from bars and restaurants to riverside parkland. It’s unsurprising that they’re proving attractive to occupiers.”
Fit out is already underway to prepare Faber for the arrival of DWP staff. The office will be used by back-office staff, so will not be open to the public to access services.
To enquire about available space, contact Patrick Matheson or Nathan Douglas at Knight Frank (patrick.matheson@knightfrank.com or nathan.douglas@knightfrank.com), or Greg Davison or Emma Young at Savills (greg.davison@savills.com or emma.young@savills.com)
To find out more about the Maker and Faber development, visit www.makerfaber.co.uk or follow @makerandfaber on social media.
