Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens has closed to visitors as its £13.6m redevelopment moves towards appointment of the main contractor.

Bellrock Consulting, appointed by Sunderland City Council in 2023, will manage the procurement and appointment process through a Pre-Construction Services Agreement.

The consultancy has supported the project through more than two years of design development and helped the council prepare its funding application.

The scheme extends beyond the museum’s exhibition spaces. It includes work to the Grade II-listed building’s fabric, new galleries and displays, improved access and new social spaces.

The main entrance will be relocated to improve the connection with Mowbray Park. The plans also include improvements to the Winter Gardens, external landscape and public realm, alongside a new community learning facility called The Growing Space.

The work will take place in a building that combines three distinct construction phases and methods, alongside the bespoke Winter Gardens and its glass dome.

Bellrock associate director and lead project manager Leo Heath said the project would require close coordination around more than 108,000 museum artefacts, the Winter Gardens’ living botanical collection and the building’s historic fabric.

“Managing a project of this scale, with such regional significance, presents unique logistical and engineering challenges,” he said.

The project is backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sunderland City Council, Arts Council England, the Museum, Estate and Development Fund, The Wolfson Foundation and other partners.

While the building is closed, the museum will continue programmes across Sunderland. These will include pop-up exhibitions, workshops, talks, school activities and loan boxes delivered through Culture House and community venues.

The venue is expected to reopen to the public in December 2028. Bellrock’s next formal milestone is the appointment of the main contractor.