The hillthorn Park development near Washington would create nine buildings of more than 620,000 square feet for business, adding garage and layout.
This comes after thousands of citizens campaigned with proposals for the energy waste gasification plant.
Although plans will need to be approved, the site may be built until 2024.
It is financed through Legal and General on an agreement backed by Sunderland City Council.
The original plan would have noticed the structure of a renewable energy center, which would have electricity for Nissan and other nearby local businesses.
The councillors rejected the plans following a public crusade that began in 2017 and the proposals were withdrawn.
Sunderland City Council leader Graeme Miller said the new plans are a “big step forward.”
He added: “We’ve been working with partners to make sure this develops in a way that creates the biggest economic benefits for the city, and it’s an agreement that will provide new employment opportunities for other local people and attract more business to Sunderland.”
The resolution was welcomed by business leaders and activists.
Ellen Thinnesen, president of Sunderland Business Partnership and ceo of Education Partnership North East, added, “The replacement speed in Sunderland is phenomenal and explains why to be positive about the future.”
Estelle Howarth, of the Crusade No Monster Incinerator in Washington, had been a long one.
“There is a need for green energy, but the proposed incinerator is not the right solution,” he added.
“We will be interested to know how the City Council proposes to manage the accumulation of traffic that the new activity park will bring.
“Perhaps the time has come to make the subway to Washington bigger for this.”
Follow BBC North East and Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your item to [email protected].