Decision in on new 'Post Office Banking Hub' in Houghton-le-Spring

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has approved an application for 72 Newbottle Street in the Houghton ward.

The site includes a retail unit and sits adjacent to the entrance of Houghton-le-Spring Library and Learning Centre.

Applicant Cash Access UK applied for permission earlier this year (2025) to convert the “existing vacant unit into a retail banking hub with internal and external alterations”, including a “new ATM machine.”

The development is expected to operate under the Post Office Banking Hub brand, with a separate application for signage also submitted.

Banking hubs are a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to everyone, and are being rolled out nationally to protect access to cash.

The proposed branch in Houghton-le-Spring was announced earlier this year (2025) with details of how the bank hub developments work in practice.

This includes each hub consisting of a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions.

In addition, it was noted there would be “private spaces where customers can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy”.

Banks would work from the retail banking hubs on a rotating basis, so there would be staff from different banks available on different days.

After considering the planning application, Sunderland City Council's planning department approved the plan on September 10, 2025.

Council planners, in a decision report, noted the unit had "most recently been in use as a coffee shop but has been vacant for some time" and said the proposed development was acceptable.

It was noted that there would be a "limited" change to the appearance of the shop front and that alterations were acceptable "in terms of design and amenity".

In addition, there were no objections and comments from the council's highways department.

The council decision report adds: "The application is considered acceptable in relation to design and therefore, it is not considered that the proposed shop front and ATM would appear an incongruous feature within the street scene or lead to conditions whereby residential amenity is detrimentally affected, especially given the location on Houghton town centre’s main shopping street."

The previous announcement for the planned Houghton ward banking hub branch came from LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, which confirmed banking hubs will be delivered by Cash Access UK.

A statement on the Post Office website notes the wider banking hubs initiative recognises “how important in-person banking still is for many people”.

The statement added: “That’s why we’re expanding our network of banking hubs, owned by Cash Access and run by Post Office in partnership with nine major high street banks.

“Soon, you’ll be able to access personal and business banking services, pay bills and get help from community bankers, all in person.”

For more information on the plan and council decision, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search reference 25/01537/FUL and 25/01538/ADV.