Institutional investor L&G has secured a 55,167 sq ft lease to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at Faber, one of Sunderland’s newest office buildings.
Riverside Sunderland
DWP is taking a long lease on three of the five floors in the building, which was completed last year.
It plans to move staff currently working at Wear View House in the city to the riverside property from April 2027.
Faber opened last year
Faber is one of two new L&G-backed buildings in Sunderland city centre; online food and delivery platform Just East moved its regional customer service hub into its neighbouring sister building, Maker, in December.
Development manager Landid oversaw the design and construction of the two buildings on behalf of L&G.
The offices form part of a £100m commitment from L&G to River Sunderland, a major city-centre regeneration scheme led by the council that is set to provide 1m sq ft of office space.
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.”
James Jackson, cabinet member for business, housing and regeneration at Sunderland City Council, added: “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.”
The government has opened several new regional office hubs in recent years as part of a drive to move thousands of civil servant jobs outside of London. Several government office buildings in central London have closed as a result.
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