Sunderland leaders welcome multi-million-pound city boost

A HUGE funding package that will help unlock more than 1,000 new riverside homes in Sunderland has been welcomed by civic leaders as "a vitally important step forward in the city's transformation".   

More than £41m of external grant funding has been secured by Sunderland City Council from Homes England; the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG); and the North East Combined Authority (NECA).  At a Cabinet Meeting held today [November 14], the city's portfolio holders said the support would unlock Riverside Sunderland's next phase of development, which will see more than 1,000 new homes - that will attract some 2,500 new residents - built over the coming years. 

Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, officially signed off receipt of the bumper funding package, which will support the delivery of critical infrastructure and remediation of key brownfield development sites in the Riverside Sunderland and Sunniside regeneration areas. 

The council will use external grant funding alongside its own investment and that of private sector developers to secure the delivery of new housing across these key residential development sites in and around the city centre.  This will help to increase the availability of high-quality new homes, diversify housing tenure and improve housing choice, as well as supporting the repopulation of the city centre, something that will fuel the ongoing revival of Sunderland.

Cllr Mordey said: "This represents a significant vote of confidence in the city, and a commitment to our plans for a transformed urban heart for Sunderland.  This city - and this local authority - is recognised nationally as a place that delivers on its commitments - a place that is capable of public-sector led change, built on strong partnerships.  To secure this level of investment in housing infrastructure is unprecedented and a demonstration of the level of ambition and confidence we have in Sunderland.

"The next phase of the transformation of Riverside Sunderland is the development of high quality homes, which will increase the residential population in the city providing an additional boost to retailers and leisure operators in the city centre by day and night."

Sunderland City Council's cabinet was asked to note the receipt of £29.750m of Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) fund grant secured from Homes England, £4.033m of Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) grant from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and £8.130m of Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) grant from the North East Mayoral Combined Authority. 

The funding will enable preparatory work to commence on key Riverside Sunderland sites, which will make them shovel ready as private developers move in to create attractive new urban homes across the city centre.

Councillor Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and business, said: "There can be few local authorities across the UK that are leveraging funding more effectively than Sunderland, to ensure that our city's transformation can continue at a pace and scale that matches our ambition. 

"When we make bids for funding, it is backed up by delivery and - as residents have seen across the Riverside Sunderland site - there is a growing sense of momentum that is fuelling a once-in-a-generation transformation in the heart of the city - the result is a better place to live, work and play."