A first look at The Maxim, Sunderland's newest riverside address

House hunters in Sunderland and further afield are now able to register their interest in the city’s most exciting new housing development, The Maxim at Vaux, as enquiries open for the award-winning, 34-home neighbourhood on the edge of the River Wear.

The two-and-three-bedroom homes combine contemporary design with sustainability, delivering stylish, energy-efficient living in an unrivalled city-centre location. The first collection of 10 terraced houses and eight maisonettes will be move-in ready in early 2027.

The second collection, a further 16 homes based on the our award-winning Home of 2030 designs, will see homeowners receiving their keys in autumn 2027. The homes draw on concepts developed through a national competition to reimagine how future homes can be greener, more flexible and better suited to modern lifestyles.

Designed for everyday living and built to last, the homes incorporate the latest eco-friendly features and technologies, including large windows to flood the homes with natural light, air-source heat pumps, solar panels and whole-house ventilation. Future homeowners now have the chance to be part of an award-winning sustainable community, shaped by igloo’s experience in creating places that people love.

The Maxim is the first phase of Vaux, a new neighbourhood taking shape within the Riverside Sunderland regeneration area. Close to City Hall and the new Keel Bridge, as well as a range of cultural destinations, bars, restaurants and landscaped public spaces, the homes offer easy connectivity via local transport links to the wider city and beyond.

In a nod to its iconic location, the neighbourhood is named after Double Maxim, the much-loved Sunderland beer, which was originally brewed on the site and has since been revived by local brewery Maxim, following the closure of the Vaux Brewery in 1999.

Although rooted in history, The Maxim is right at the heart of a new era for the city and is changing the face of its historic waterfront. With all that the city has to offer on its doorstep, the neighbourhood is perfect for young professionals, downsizers and everyone in between seeking homes designed around long-term living, comfort and everyday convenience.

While the site enters a significant new phase for the city, our team behind the scheme has made sure the trademark character and spirit of Sunderland lives and breathes through the walls of the development, championing local culture and heritage to create a community designed for healthier, happier everyday living.

Michelle Williams, Project Director at igloo, said: “The Maxim is truly unlike any other development for sale in Sunderland right now – it’s urban living, but not as you know it. As a part of Vaux, it’s on the site of one of the city’s most iconic places and it’s been important to us that we honour that history. For us, creating homes starts with understanding the place you’re working in and making sure new developments build on the character that’s already there.  

“From the homes themselves to the landscaped spaces between them, The Maxim is built on a philosophy of forming a strong sense of joy and community, which is so important to our wellbeing. We passionately believe that better homes build better cities and we can’t wait to welcome our first residents in 2027.”

Jan Dale, igloo’s North East Sales Lead, added: “Sunderland is changing, and its residential offer is evolving with it. This is exactly where igloo brings something different to the market. The Maxim is not simply new homes; it forms part of a carefully considered neighbourhood designed around people, place and the future of the city.

“The combination of contemporary design, sustainability, wellbeing and a genuinely central location will appeal to a new generation of Sunderland homeowners and help strengthen the city’s residential proposition.”

Prospective homeowners can register their interest for pricing, availability and viewing updates at www.themaximvaux.com or contact Urban Base, the sales agents.

The Maxim at Vaux is created by igloo in collaboration with local award-winning architects MawsonKerr Architects and Openstudio Architects. Part-funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Sunderland City Council, the scheme forms part of the wider Riverside Sunderland regeneration programme.

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