950-home residential development recommended for approval

One of the largest new communities that Sunderland will have seen in decades is set to go before planning committee this month, aligned to a council-led strategy to deliver more and better homes to meet the needs of the city's residents.

The 950 home community, which forms the next phase of ambitious development in the South Sunderland Growth Area, will deliver high quality and affordable homes that increase the housing choice available for growing families and younger people establishing themselves on the property ladder.

A consortium of developers comprising Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon and Story Homes has submitted a planning application that - if approved - will see 890 homes built on land North of Burdon Lane - 532 of which will have detailed consent and a further 358 which will have outline approval.  A further 60 homes are set to be delivered by Persimmon, under its Charles Church brand, on adjacent land at Burdon Lane.

The scheme - which would represent the largest new residential development to be approved since Washington New Town - will include a mix of house types, from two to five bed properties, and 10 per cent of those built will be 'affordable' homes. 

The development will also pave the way for a new primary school that will serve the local community, and plans include a new local centre which will include amenities like local shops, a doctors surgery and a community hub or public house, a multi use games area, 3G pitch and play facilities to suit children of varying ages.  The plan will preserve and enhance swathes of green space totalling more than 21 hectares  - supporting healthy and active lifestyles and maximising bio diversity.

New local road and sustainable transport networks will be coordinated with the Council's plans for the next section for the Ryhope to Doxford Link Road which will support the delivery of approximately 3000 new homes in the South Sunderland Growth Area, including a significant number of much needed larger family homes which make the city a more attractive place to live with exciting new communities for families of all kinds. 

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "We have ambitious plans to develop a range of high quality and affordable new homes across Sunderland.  We're delighted that house builders are responding to those plans and are keen to come into the city and develop homes that will enhance our offering, and will be attractive to new and existing residents. 

"Sunderland has many assets as a place to live, and providing spacious new homes in attractive communities like this one, with an abundance of green space and excellent sustainable transport links, is increasingly making Sunderland a destination of choice for new home owners and at the same time supporting the growth of the local economy."

Plans for Burdon will contribute to the council's aspiration to deliver more than 7,000 new homes in Sunderland over the coming 10 years.  The council is leading a city-wide housing strategy to ensure Sunderland has the volume and variety of homes it needs to attract and retain a diverse range of residents. Among other housing developments moving forward across the city is the council's major development at Potters Hill, near Chapelgarth; a new coastal community being created by Avant Homes and Miller Homes at Seaburn; a £40m scheme being delivered by Karbon Homes in North Hylton and a £400m+ plan by Gentoo to invest in its existing stock and a significant new affordable homes programme. Sunderland City Council is also delivering on ambitions to develop contemporary new city centre homes on the Riverside Sunderland site, the existing Civic Centre site, and at Northern Spire Park alongside the stunning Northern Spire bridge as well as having started work earlier this year on the first council houses built in Sunderland for almost 40 years.