A decision on a 49-home development has been delayed again following concerns raised by residents.

Sunderland City Council’s planning and highways committee was due to vote on proposals from Homes By Esh for land adjacent to Burdon Road in the Doxford area.

The housing plans – said to be vital to the future of a city sports club – aim to deliver dozens of new homes on a former agricultural site with a proposed vehicular access to the south via a “new four-arm mini-roundabout junction with The Fold.”

However, the plans have sparked local concerns over the new access generating a “significant” increase in traffic and the wider design of the scheme.

Residents living near a proposed 49-home development in the Doxford area have urged decision-makers to listen to their concerns.

placeholder image — Residents living near a proposed 49-home development in the Doxford area have urged decision-makers to listen to their concerns.

A decision was due at a planning meeting on March 30 at City Hall, where several local residents raised concerns, but councillors instead voted to defer a decision to explore an alternative western access to the site.

When the application returned to the planning and highways committee on June 10 at City Hall, a committee report noted the 49-home scheme, with a southern access, was still being proposed.

Council planners, recommending the housing for approval, said this access could “manage the flow of incoming and outgoing traffic for both the new site and the existing residential properties at The Fold”.

The council report added developers had “discounted alternative access arrangements” with an argument centred on “legal/land ownership constraints”.

Ian McConnell, the chair Of trustees, at Ashbrooke Sports Club.

Residents living near the proposed housing site said the scheme, if approved in its current form, would increase traffic and worsen highway safety and urged decision-makers to listen to their concerns.

At the latest meeting, it was confirmed that Homes by Esh had requested the application be withdrawn from the agenda.

It is now expected to be heard at a future meeting.

Dale Morris, technical director at Homes by Esh, said the decision to withdraw the application from the meeting was made because of “concerns raised locally about our proposed development”.

He added the deferral decision would “allow time to fully consider and consult on the comments made”.

Councillor Michael Peacock, Liberal Democrat councillor for Doxford Park ward, speaking on behalf of residents, welcomed the decision.

“Following campaigning from local residents, it is great to see that the developers are finally going to take the time to review their concerns, having removed the application from Wednesday’s planning committee meeting,” Cllr Peacock said.

“This is exactly what the original deferral decision was meant to encourage earlier in the year.

“Residents are not against the development as a whole but have serious and valid concerns about the safety implications of the proposed access.

“Hopefully the developers can address the legitimate safety concerns residents have raised.”

Ashbrooke Sports Club, which own the site, have previously said the plans would clear the club’s debts and safeguard sporting provision in the city for decades to come.

Ian McConnell, the chair of trustees, added the club wanted to work with the city council to “progress housing, resultant employment and of course the financial resuscitation of our much-loved club”.

An update on the Homes by Esh development is expected at a future planning and highways committee meeting.