Fairhurst are proud to showcase the Sheepfolds Subway development in Sunderland, which once open to the public, will link the new Keel Crossing to the Stadium of Light. Constructed by Esh Civils on behalf of Sunderland City Council the development forms part of wider public realm improvements and includes a pedestrian underpass and a walkway over a historical wagon way associated with the area’s industrial past. The sympathetically designed Tobermore reinforced soil structure at the heart of the development is an innovative alternative to a traditional reinforced concrete bridge structure and has been nationally recognised through shortlisting at the Ground Engineering Awards.
Our Geotechnical services teams in Newcastle and Glasgow helped bring the aspirational regeneration project to life, delivering specialist consultancy services from feasibility stage through to construction, including design and management of the ground investigation works, carrying out slope stability assessments for the approach wing walls and designing the sub-structure for the underpass structure. This offering was further bolstered through provision of multidisciplinary services including Civil and Structural Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Principal Designer and Planning.
The scheme demonstrates how collaboration, smart value engineering and technical rigour can elevate a modest-scale project into one of regional significance.
AWARDS
Shortlisted – UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of between £1M – £3M – Ground Engineering Awards, 2026
Shortlisted – Award for Technical Excellence – Ground Engineering Awards, 2026
