WORK on a former brewery site which ground to a halt amid Carillion’s collapse has restarted, with construction firm Tolent awarded the contract to complete the first building.

Sunderland City Council’s development partners Siglion, which is responsible for the development of the former Vaux site as well as a number of other key regeneration projects in the city, has confirmed that North East headquartered Tolent Construction has been appointed to complete phase one of the development, replacing Carillion Construction which was liquidated earlier this year.

Tolent has restarted work on the first building, The Beam, as well as infrastructure, a new public square and continuation of the Keel Line.

It is expected that The Beam will open early in 2019, providding more than 59,000 sq ft of office and leisure space, and extending the footprint of the city centre towards the riverside, connected by the nearby Keel Square.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller said: “The redevelopment of this site is of massive strategic importance to the future of our city, and we can all be delighted that building is about to resume.

“We have been working hard with Siglion to find new construction partners since Carillion got into difficulties and believe in Tolent that we have found the company best placed and prepared to take things forward.”

“We’re delighted that work is underway once again on The Beam, the first building on the former Vaux site.”

Cllr Miller added: “Vaux is a long-awaited development for the city and one that will mark the start of a new life for a site that is central to Sunderland’s economic and cultural ambitions – a place that will become a business hub, as well as a destination for leisure and housing in the future. It’s great news and we very much look forward to seeing the building completed next year.”

Mr Roberts added: “The collapse of Carillion Construction meant that work on Vaux had to cease in January, and it has been a painstaking process to move this forward in a way that would not undermine the warranties associated with this building, as well as the quality of the space, which is paramount to us, given the significance of this site.

“We should see things move on quickly, and we very much look forward to opening a fantastic building next year, which will be a huge asset for Sunderland.”

Many of those who originally worked on the Beam have been re-engaged to finish the building, a spokesman said.

More than 300 people lost their jobs when Vaux Brewery closed in Sunderland in 1999 after 162 years of producing beers such as Double Maxim and Samson.