Glassworks: Sunderland planning application submitted
Plans have been submitted to Sunderland City Council to turn the old Peter Smith Antiques building in Sunniside into Glassworks: Sunderland — a new home for glassmaking, ceramics and creative production. The project came about after the National Glass Centre (NGC) closed its doors on 31 July 2026, with the University of Sunderland pointing to structural issues, poor energy efficiency and a hefty repair bill.
Sunderland Culture is keen to stress this isn’t a straight swap for the NGC, but more of a rescue mission to keep the city’s glassmaking heritage alive. There won’t be a café or galleries this time — the focus is squarely on giving makers the space they need. Every glassmaking and ceramics discipline from the NGC will carry over, and there’ll actually be more studio space than before. The building keeps its historic character too, with exposed brick and stone staircases, plus lift access throughout, an on-site substation, and heat recovered from the furnaces to warm the co-working and public areas.
A decision on the application is expected in early autumn 2026, and if it’s given the green light, the doors could open in 2028 — meaning a two-year gap since the NGC shut. To bridge that gap, Sunderland Culture is putting together a programme of commissions, residencies, bursaries and temporary workspaces.
The project has already secured £5 million from DCMS’s Cultural Development Fund, distributed through Arts Council England, and Sunderland Culture is now working on raising match funding to get it over the line.
Sunderland-based glass artist Helen Gordon said: “The plans for Glassworks are well considered. They include the vital specialist equipment that glass artists like me need to continue producing work and upholding Sunderland’s global reputation for contemporary glass. By providing a sustainable home for glass and ceramic artists, the facility will help safeguard specialist skills, support local creative industries, and ensure that Sunderland remains a leading centre for contemporary glass for future generations.”
For digitally imagined images of the proposed new centre, see here.