New plans for Sheepfolds housing submitted

Revised plans to transform Sheepfolds Sunderland into a vibrant new community have been submitted for approval.

Riverside Sunderland's transformation has taken another step forward today, with a planning application submitted for a 450-home residential-led mixed use community at Sheepfolds.  The new proposals - which form a major part of the Mayoral Creative Development Zone supported by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness - are the result of weeks of consultation and partnership working with partners including Sunderland AFC, with adjustments made to designs that will safeguard ongoing operations at the Stadium of Light and ensure any future expansion is not restricted.

With changes from the original planning submission, a revised application made to the local planning authority will see the former industrial estate in Sunderland transformed into a vibrant new riverside community, with a mix of apartments and townhouses, alongside commercial and community spaces.  The key change to the original planning submission, which went out to public consultation last year, is the inclusion of new offices that create a larger commercial 'buffer zone' around the Stadium of Light.

The plans - which will go to planning committee this spring - will be taken forward by Vistry Group, the council's preferred developer.

Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "I am delighted that we are in a position to move forward with a planning application for a new community that will deliver for Sunderland, and that we know enables the football club - which is the beating heart of this city - to realise its own future ambitions.   Riverside Sunderland is utterly transformed to the south of the river, so building on that with a high-quality community wrapped around the stadium to the north, as you see in leading stadia across the country, will be brilliant. 

"As a life-long Sunderland supporter, it's great that these plans leave open the prospect of expansion of our magnificent football stadium."

Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "Sunderland is already an amazing place to live and work, and I am pleased to support further growth in the city. We are determined to bring even more world-class creative jobs to Sunderland, a place people are proud to call home.  

"Our new Creative Mayoral Development Zone will speed up transformation and that's exactly what's happening. I know people want to see progress on plans for Sunderland Riverside and we are delivering this at pace, so people can see changes happen quickly - including more creative jobs, new housing and employment sites. This is great news for the city." 

Sheepfolds is the largest of four residential communities being created at Riverside Sunderland, which will see 1,000 new city centre homes line the riverbanks, alongside new commercial and community spaces.

Vistry's Sheepfolds scheme has been designed by North East architects Faulknerbrowns.  It comprises a mix of townhouses, duplexes and apartments on land between St Peter's Metro Station and the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA), which opened last year and delivers cutting-edge training to young people on modern methods of construction.  Homes in the area will benefit from world-class amenity on the doorstep, with the Beacon of Light, the new Esports Arena, the Aquatic Centre and Sheepfolds Stables all just a stone's throw away, and Keel Crossing providing access to a fast-changing city centre benefitting from the addition of venues like The Botanist and Keel Tavern and soon home to Culture House.

Situated on the most northerly aspect of Riverside Sunderland, phase one of the scheme is part of the recently announced Creative Mayoral Development Zone and is being supported by £4.8m of Brownfield Housing Fund Grant administered by the North East Combined Authority.

More than thirty buildings have or will be demolished to make way for the development, and - if approval of the plans is granted - work will start by the end of 2026.

Homes England has supported the development with funding to enable the development of Keel Crossing, vital supporting infrastructure for the scheme.  The crossing opened last year, connecting Sheepfolds to the Vaux community. 

Riverside Sunderland is being built on 32 hectares of brownfield land spanning the River Wear.  It aims to double the resident population of the city centre from 2,500 to 5,000 and increase employment by 50 per cent to 18,000.