New life breathed into derelict Sunderland homes

Sunderland City Council decided to become a registered provider of social housing in 2019, with the aim of increasing the amount of affordable housing and speeding up housing supply across the city.

The authority has recently purchased seven empty properties and is in the process of refurbishing them ready for letting as high quality affordable homes which meet local housing needs.

The seven homes are the first of many properties which the council will provide, with the purchase of more empty properties planned and new developments across the city.

The properties were in a poor condition and had become unsightly as they had stood empty for a long time, one of them being empty for over ten years.

The refurbishment will see the houses receive new bathrooms and kitchens as well as being fully carpeted and decorated, ready for letting as quality new homes.READ MORE: Work to start this month on the first new Sunderland council houses in 40 years

Coun Rebecca Atkinson, the city council’s cabinet member for Dynamic City, who visited one of the properties in Dene Street, Hetton, said refurbishing derelict properties rather than building new homes was a cost-effective way to add to the city’s housing stock.

"Bringing empty homes back into use as affordable housing is a key part of the council's City Plan which aims to make the city more dynamic, healthy and vibrant over the next decade,” she said.

"We know that having empty, boarded up and often run down properties is a real blight for a number of our communities which is why we have committed to bringing many empty homes across the city back into use as family homes over the next five years.

"Many of these homes have been standing empty for some time, in some cases for more than 10 years which has led to a range of issues including break-ins and fly tipping

"Buying up and bringing these homes back into use is the first phase of a targeted approach to strengthen and improve life in our communities by reducing the number of empty properties across our city."

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