We’re delighted to say Building Design Northern has been awarded ‘Commercial Development of the Year’ and ‘Fit-Out/Refurbishment of the Year’ at the 2025 North East Property Awards for our exemplar transformation of Sheepfolds Stables, a Grade II-listed former stables buildings.

Up against some of the region’s most stand-out projects, our meticulous preservation, conservation, regeneration and redevelopment of the historic site into a landmark and high quality food, drink, events and entertainment venue that boosts the local economy as well as the community, has been at the heart of our £4m scheme – this was one of many project highlights that stood out for the judges.

After standing derelict, at risk and in a state of disrepair for decades, Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland has seen major transformation – being reimagined and repurposed as a thriving, go-to, social and hospitality hotspot for the city and wider region.

Trailblazing in its approach and heritage-first delivery, the site -which dates back to 1884 and officially relaunched in 2024, now attracts thousands of people each week and is a hot spot for food lovers, live music, private, corporate and cultural events as well as big screen sports, monthly markets and more.

The 36,000 site, overlooking the River Wear, also includes an outside stage and seating area, an exclusive whisky lounge and two main bars – The Taproom and Back of the Pit, named as a nod to the area’s coal-mining heritage.

Our vision was to design and create a modern venue that was ambitious, commercially viable and simultaneously generated positive social impact whilst sensitively preserving the site. Our overriding desire was to create a new lasting legacy that very much ‘kept the history alive’.

Built more than 140 years ago and sized relative to the working horses being housed, many historic features are now interior focal points at Sheepfolds Stables. These include hay loft winches, water troughs, stable doors, cast iron wheel buffers, bolts, detailed bullnose brick interior walls and fittings.

Through extensive research and referencing back to old maps, images and library archives, original features were restored and incorporated into the architectural designs and site plans.

On a larger scale, BDN construction teams painstakingly removed, cleaned and relayed (by hand) approximately 30,000 original ‘scoria brick’ cobbles throughout the courtyard areas, and the creation of the entrance tower clock, based on the original time piece designs, was specially commissioned and reinstalled.

Named as Commercial Development of the Year and Fit-Out/Refurbishment of the Year, Building Design Northern and Sheepfolds Stables has cemented itself as one of the region’s most stand-out schemes and a high-quality destination for the future.

The event, held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead and organised by Insider Media, is a high profile occasion within the industry and marks the very best commercial developments completed during the past year. As well as architects and developers, it also celebrates those working behind the scenes to help support and drive forward projects and to place the North East very firmly on the map. This includes law firms, investors and surveyors to interior designers and strategic comms organisations who collectively support the sector.

More details about Sheepfolds Stables can be found here: https://sheepfoldsstables.co.uk/