The near £200m turnover Gateshead-based contractor collapsed into administration in February leaving a string of projects in the lurch.

Now the city council is set to appoint Robertson to complete Tolent’s central station project and the nearby Pattern Shop redevelopment, once the site of Robert Stephenson’s steam locomotive works.

Work could resume as early as next month on the two city centre projects.

Central Station Concourse plan

A council spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have published an intention to appoint Robertson Construction to complete two important capital projects in the city – improvements to the Central Station and the refurbishment of the building known as Pattern Shop behind the station into space for small and medium sized enterprises.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland City Council is set to name a replacement contractor in August to build the first homes project at its flagship Vaux Brewery redevelopment after progress stalled because of Tolent.

It is estimated the 135-home Kingsley Gardens project will cost around £24m to complete.