Another Gentoo housing development rejected after fresh backlash over building on Sunderland's green spaces

Planning officers at Sunderland City Council had recommended the approval of proposals for 86 affordable houses, bungalows and apartments on land at Cragdale Gardens in Hetton.

But their insistence of the scheme’s ‘clear benefit’ and the added benefit of almost £400,000 towards education, play and other outdoor facilities was not enough to convince decision makers.

“The loss of green space is the fundamental reason for refusing this application,” said Washington Central councillor Len Lauchlan.

“One of the reasons I’m unhappy about this is that planners and developers seem to be able to buy their way into using green space [for building].”

He added: “I’m worried about all the applications coming forward for green space, there seems to be quite a flood of them.

“While I understand the need for affordable housing, green space is also vital, especially at this time.”

Cllr Lauchlan was speaking at a meeting of the council’s Planning and Highways Committee for the west of the city on January 19, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

He also referenced an application heard by the panel in December 2020 to build on land at Willows Close, in Washington, which was rejected unanimously over concerns about the loss of green space.

Committee chair Cllr Melanie Thornton added she shared Cllr Lauchlan’s concerns and that this had been ‘highlighted in the decisions we’re making’.

According to plans, the six bungalows, 12 apartments and 68 two-storey houses planned for the site near Hetton-le-Hill Golf Course would have been offered at ‘affordable’ below-market-rate prices.

Objections submitted by members of the public, Hetton Town Council and other city councillors not on the planning committee focused on the loss of green space the project would cause, which Gentoo had promised to mitigate with a promised £42,705.72 towards ‘improvement [of] alternative open space’.

If approved, a further £292,462 was earmarked for education provision and £60,544 for play areas.

Joanne Gordon, development director at Gentoo Group, said: “We are very disappointed with the outcome of the planning application, given that the application was recommended for approval by officers and meets all necessary planning criteria.

“Our purpose as Sunderland’s main provider of affordable housing is to help meet the housing needs of the city’s residents and providing new and high quality rented homes is absolutely central to this.

“We remain fully committed to supporting Sunderland City Council in addressing the significant affordable housing shortage in the city and, as a result, we will be reviewing our options.”

When asked, Gentoo did not comment on whether it intended to appeal the decision.

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