THE transformation of the former Vaux Brewery site is expected to start this year, as part of the £100m-plus revamp of Sunderland.

Dave Smith, Sunderland City Council chief executive, said he hoped to submit a planning application for the first building on the site within months.

The work on a new gateway into the city will be led by Siglion, the joint venture company set up by the council and construction company Carillion, with support from regeneration expert Igloo, Mr Smith told an NECC meeting at the Stadium of Light.

It was anticipated a planning application for the first building on the site, a 50,000 sq ft office complex, would be submitted by the summer, as the first phase a new central business district.

Siglion will be developing five major sites including Seaburn and Chapelgarth in partnership with the private sector and the local community.

It comes as the winning bidder has been chosen to build a much-delayed bridge over the Wear.

The bridge is to be cable-stayed and cross the River Wear between Castletown on the north side to Pallion on the south.

It will have two lanes of traffic in both directions and dedicated cycleways and footpaths along its full length.

An official announcement on the successful contractor is due when Government approval is confirmed next month.

The three bidders that submitted final tenders were: FCC Construction SA, a joint venture between Northstone and Victor Buyck Steel Construction, and a joint venture between Hochtief Construction and Dragados.

Works are anticipated to start this summer.

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “The new bridge is all about bringing further regeneration, bringing improvements to the city’s infrastructure, and bringing more opportunities for more economic growth.

“The new bridge and its approach roads are linking the strategic transport corridor from the Port of Sunderland, through the city centre, past our key riverside regeneration sites and out to the A19."