Maker & Faber completion brings Sunderland to the forefront of UK office supply
The two towers have delivered 157,000 sq ft of grade A space into a sparsely populated market, making up a large chunk of the 350,000 sq ft of newly built office space available in the UK outside of London.
The buildings are two of only four new-build office schemes completing and available to rent this year across the UK, with the other two being Birmingham’s 3 Chamberlain Square and Manchester’s 3 Circle Square.
Data from Knight Frank shows that the 350,000 sq ft of new-build office space on the market outside of London is half the amount released in 2024 (723,724 sq ft) and 44% down on 2023.
Designed by architect Ryder and built by development manager Landid and construction company Sir Robert McAlpine, the towers are financed by Legal & General.
Partner at Knight Frank, Patrick Matheson, says demand for grade A offices continues to outstrip supply as businesses prioritise ESG credentials, amenity, and location, and he believes Sunderland is well placed to take advantage of this.
“It’s a very exciting time for the city – the completion of Maker & Faber on the hugely ambitious Riverside Sunderland development couldn’t have been better timed.
“We’ve seen from the success of The Beam – a 60,000 sq ft office – in Sunderland that new offices with modern specifications are in high demand.
“Occupiers increasingly want high-quality, ESG-compliant assets in prime regional locations.
“The exceptional specification, sustainability credentials and amenities at Maker & Faber mean you could be anywhere in the UK – these buildings compete with the very best on offer in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.
“Real estate can directly support business objectives by providing spaces that attract top talent and support employee well-being and retention.
“The ‘flight to quality’ continues across UK cities and securing the right real estate remains challenging in this market.
“As businesses focus on upgrading their office spaces, many are utilising their lease events to vacate good quality buildings for even better-quality space.
“Companies including Virgin, O2, and Siemens are shifting from out-of-town locations to city centre offices to benefit from greater connectivity, higher quality amenities, and closer proximity to talent.”
James Silver, managing director at Landid, the company managing the development of Maker & Faber, adds: “Sunderland is undergoing transformation at a rate not seen in decades, and these new offices are playing a part in that, with plans to create 1m sq ft of commercial property across the Riverside Sunderland site.”
