The green light has been given to the redevelopment of Sunderland’s Civic Centre site into a new residential community after the City Council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee approved plans for 265 new homes.
Vistry Partnerships will deliver the project which, in addition to the new housing, will provide high quality public open spaces and cycling and pedestrian links, improving access to the city centre.
Andrew Rennie, Development Director with Vistry Partnerships North East, said: “We are delighted to have secured approval for this city centre redevelopment to go ahead, which we are confident will play a pivotal part in Sunderland’s regeneration.
“We aim to create an attractive new residential quarter that sits comfortably within the surrounding architecture, with a focus on green space that encourages community use. It will be a fantastic new inclusive neighbourhood with its own distinctive character, providing a new housing offer on the edge of Ashbrooke and Mowbray Park whilst benefiting from the close proximity to the city centre.”
The completed homes will range from one to four bedroomed homes with 145 three and four-bedroom houses and 120 one and two-bedroom apartments.
The civic centre redevelopment is part of a wider plan to build more than 7,000 new homes across the city by 2030.
Peter McIntyre, executive director of city development at Sunderland City Council, said: “Having made the move to our new City Hall only a matter of weeks ago, I am delighted to see plans for the former civic centre site given the green light.
“Housing on the outskirts of the city centre will deliver a significant boost to traders in the heart of the city, as people living on the doorstep head in to spend their time and money in shops, bars and restaurants. By bookending the city with residential developments – at Riverside Sunderland and the former Civic site – we will boost footfall and hopefully – with it – spend too.”
Sunderland City Council is also developing contemporary new city centre homes on the Riverside Sunderland site, and at Northern Spire Park alongside the Northern Spire bridge.
