DESIGNS for a super community centre on Wearside have been unveiled by a North-East architect.

Waring and Netts, of Newcastle, came up with a design for a £3m one-stop community access point in Hetton in response to a design competition held by Sunderland City Council.

The centre will house organisations offering a wide range of community services and facilities.

It will be built on the site of the existing Eppleton Miners Welfare Institute Trust, and will be a boost for the regeneration of the area, providing job-finding services and adult learning facilities."

Rob Charlton, from Waring and Netts, said: "This is a development with a vision. It not only delivers a number of cost benefits but will also foster a good sense of community spirit, acting as a focal point for local people to meet and benefit from a wide range of facilities and services.

"We have developed a low energy, low maintenance services strategy with natural stack ventilation, underfloor heating and solar shading on the windows.

The building includes a general office and reception area along with multi-use rooms.

The Hetton Centre is in line with Sunderland council's policy of creating flagship community focal points.

Council leader Colin Anderson, said: "The building will carry on regenerating the Hetton community which has been badly affected by the demise of the mining industry. Its design will allow us to realise various economies of scale with regard to construction costs, cost in use, ICT provision and land costs.

"Because it is unlike anything we have developed before in the city, we decided to go to the market and we're extremely pleased with the design that Waring and Netts has developed in partnership with Clugston, our main contractor."

The centre is expected to be completed early next year.