Housing programme on track

An infrastructure programme to support thousands of new homes across Sunderland has reached a key milestone, with six of eight projects now complete and the remaining two well underway.   

Sunderland City Council has led the delivery of a Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) backed programme, that will build the roads, connectivity and amenities needed to support more than 3,500 new homes planned to be delivered in Sunderland South Growth Area (SSGA) a neighbourhood that brings together new estates in Chapelgarth, Burdon Lane, Cherry Knowle and South Ryhope.

The HIF programme was launched by Government in 2017, representing a £4.2bn investment into key infrastructure across the UK, enabling local authorities to lead programmes of transport and utilities connections to support new housing developments. Sunderland successfully secured £25.4m, of which £20m was identified for the eight Sunderland-based projects and the remaining funding to be spent on works at Seaton Lane, Durham.

Sunderland quickly put the funding to use, to deliver important improvements to the local road network to support the new residential developments. This includes completion of the Ryhope to Doxford Link Road, as well as highway improvements to City Way to alleviate anticipated pressures and potential congestion and improvements to the A19/A690 Junction. Funding was also used to support school provision, including the extension of two existing primary schools - Benedict Biscop and St Paul's - and supporting the development of the new Sunningdale School.

Works continue with the creation of increased capacity at the neighbouring secondary school, Farringdon Community Academy along with additional Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND) provision at Mill Hill Primary School. Work on the two schools is due to be completed in time for the start of the new school year in September 2024.

Overall £37m has been invested into these key projects.

Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: "We're pleased to have advanced these important projects that ensure the new homes we are building across the SSGA benefit from excellent connectivity and the right provision to deliver attractive neighbourhoods that are well served by excellent road links and school provision. 

"Sunderland is a transforming city and our plans around housing are a key part of our vision.  As we create more and better jobs and drive forward with plans that deliver better leisure amenity and build upon the city's natural assets, we see more people being attracted to live here, and by building more and better homes, we can create a more vibrant, prosperous city. Delivering the right infrastructure to support these homes is key."

Sunderland has ambitious plans to build 7,000 new homes by 2030, with more than 1,200 homes already constructed. Half of these will be within the SSGA, with over 277 hectares of land unlocked by the council for development, and successful schemes under delivery by housebuilders including David Wilson Homes, Story Homes, and Taylor Wimpey.

Sunderland City Council's success in delivering the HIF programme, has accelerated the development and delivery of housing.  Most recently development has commenced on the final phases of the Potters Hill community where Miller Homes has commenced on Blakeney Green, providing 165 family homes, and Stonebridge Homes is bringing forward 84 executive homes at Regency Place, further increasing the residential offer in SSGA.