City to receive multi-million pound funding boost to create new affordable homes
Sunderland is set to benefit from a share of £22m of mayoral funding to create hundreds of new affordable houses in the city.
The city’s £5m share will be invested in creating new homes in what has been designated as a Mayoral Development Zone on the city’s riverside area.
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The funding will acquire and unlock land for a mixture of 89 energy-efficient urban homes and commercial space. It will also support Phase 2 of the Sheepfolds neighbourhood which will be the largest residential development within Riverside Sunderland, delivering around 450 new homes ranging from duplexes to modern townhouses and apartments.
Cllr Michael Mordey, the leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Riverside Sunderland is one of the UK’s most ambitious urban regeneration projects which, upon completion, will see over 1,000 new homes rise from the ground in the heart of our city centre.
“A huge programme of work over the past few years has created a stunning location to live and play, with bars, restaurants and leisure venues on the doorstep. This really will be a spectacular new neighbourhood where people will enjoy an enviable lifestyle, and it represents an important step-change in our city centre as we welcome an increased resident population.
“We are absolutely thrilled by today’s news that the Mayor shares our vision for the city and has awarded over £5million to ensure work can continue apace to get the site shovel-ready for development. It will be truly transformational for the city.”
Durham County Council is going to be using their share of the funding to transform the former Easington School site into 25 new high-quality, energy-efficient social rent homes.
Cllr Andrew Husband, leader of Durham County Council and Combined Authority Cabinet Member for North East We Are Proud to Call Home, said: “As part of our Housing Strategy we are working hard on our ambition to provide good quality housing that not only meets the needs of the people of County Durham, but is affordable. We are doing this by delivering a number of new council homes over the next few years.
“The redevelopment of the Easington School is among the first in the region to receive funding and supports our own programme. It will deliver much-needed housing for people, with features that will keep living costs down.”
The money will also be spent preparing brownfield sites to create new homes in Ashington, Blyth and Stobswood in Northumberland, as well as converting Gateshead’s historic Old Town Hall into new homes.
Newcastle City Council is set to use their share of the funding to “replace dated garages with new homes for social rent at the heart of existing neighbourhoods”.
Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I promised to get more homes built for local families and now we are delivering on that with £22m funding for councils, housing associations and developers to get 1,122 new homes built.
“We are providing money to turn derelict and run-down sites in the heart of neighbourhoods in place like Newbiggin Hall and Kenton, Walker, Blyth, Ashington, Easington Colliery and Gateshead into great places to live and bring up your family.”