Decision day for Hendon housing development on Sunderland land left empty since the 1990s

Plans for a major affordable housing development on Wearside are due to go before city councillors for decision next week.

Members of Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee are expected to discuss an application for new homes in the city’s Hendon area.

Although the land proposed for development was cleared in the 1990s, roads still run through patches of grass where dozens of homes once stood.

In recent years, there have been moves to make the site ready for housing, with Sunderland City Council’s cabinet approving an agreement for the site’s ‘comprehensive redevelopment’ back in 2020.

In May, 2022, scheme developers Thirteen Housing Group Ltd submitted plans for 103 homes on the brownfield land, with plans for the entire development to offer affordable rent.

A planning statement submitted to council officials at the time said housing would include units manufactured through ‘modern methods of construction’, where components are manufactured off-site and then assembled on-site.

At a recent meeting of Sunderland City Council’s Economic Prosperity Scrutiny Committee, however, bosses from housing provider Thirteen said the scheme had faced issues and delays.

It was confirmed amended plans had been submitted to provide ‘more traditional’ homes, rather than the ‘modular buildings’ using modern methods of construction as originally planned.

The proposed housing mix revealed by applicants last year includes 21 two-bedroom bungalows, 41 two-bedroom houses, 28 three-bedroom houses and six larger four-bedroom houses.

Despite the scheme seeing a small drop in the number of homes proposed compared to the initial plans, housing bosses said the entire development would still be offered for affordable rent.

Sunderland City Council planning officers, in a report prepared ahead of a decision-making meeting next week, have recommended the housing plans for approval.

Council planners also welcomed the design of the scheme and proposals for 100 per cent affordable housing, with all homes expected to be offered at ‘affordable rent tenures’.

It was noted that the development would make a “significant contribution” to the “overall provision, availability and choice of affordable housing in the city”.

The council committee report added: “There would be no adverse impact on residential amenity.

“Subject to the conditions recommended throughout this report, the proposals are also considered to be acceptable in respect of ecology, water and wastewater management, highways safety and ground conditions/land contamination”.

As part of the section 106 process, which allows councils to secure funds from developers towards community improvements, transport infrastructure and education, Thirteen is expected to make financial contributions.

This includes nearly £200,000 to “support education provision”, as well as around £8,000 for” the provision of allotments” and around £53,485 towards “ecological mitigation and management measures”.

The ecology contribution is linked to the impacts of new housing on “European-protected coastal sites and species”.

A decision on the planning application rests with members of the Planning and Highways Committee, who will next meet on Monday, February 5.

The meeting is scheduled to take place from 5.30pm at City Hall and will be open to the public.

Subject to planning permission being granted, developers hope work could start on site in Spring, 2024.

More information on the Hendon housing plans can be viewed via Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website by searching reference: 22/00970/FUL