Row rumbles on over Persimmon's work on Sunderland housing estate

Sunderland City Council put a Temporary Stop Notice on the Persimmon Homes site in Hillfield Meadows, Silksworth, on Friday, May 28, following concerns it had breached planning conditions for the 250-home plot, including adequate protection against dust.

Now, under the watchful eye of council officials, work has been allowed to continue – while Persimmon says there has been no breach of the rules.

Silksworth Councillor Phil Tye said the legal action followed months of upset for residents.

"The residents have complained it is destroying their lives,” he said.

"What they had was a beautiful outlook onto this area and now they have to have their doors closed all the time and they say there’s the noise, so the site’s supposed to start from 8am, but they’re out there from 7.30am on the roofs.

"The main issue is the generation of dust and they’ve had no mitigating measures in at all, what they needed to do was dampen it down, and they’ve now got water bowsers in.

"The residents accept the site will be developed, that it has planning permission, but what they are looking for is Persimmon to be a good neighbour and for them to have corporate responsibility.”

Despite a so-called ‘stop notice’ being issued, builders are allowed to continue to carry out work as long as it is within the planning guidelines agreed.

A spokesperson for Persimmon said the dust levels on the site are being monitored by a council planning control officer and are within the agreed limits.

The housebuilder’s spokesperson said: “Persimmon Homes remains committed to working collaboratively with Sunderland City Council and to ensuring the development at Silksworth Road continues to progress in accordance with all planning conditions.”

Council leader Councillor Graeme Miller said that council staff will be carrying out daily unannounced site inspections to ensure the developer is working within the agreed limits.

He said: “Since construction commenced concerns have been raised by residents and Silksworth ward councillors, and have continued.

“These concerns led to the council issuing a Temporary Stop Notice.

“The notice remains in effect until it is formally withdrawn or expires.”

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