Gentoo submits plans for 44 homes in new development at Fence Houses to Sunderland City Council

Artist's impression of the type of housing

Gentoo wants to build 44 homes on four parcels of land off Avenue Vivian and Rose Avenue in Fence Houses.

This includes nine two-bedroom bungalows, 21 two-bedroom houses and 14 three-bedroom homes for rent.

The plans are currently being considered by Sunderland City Council’s planning department.

If approved, the main access will be taken from Avenue Vivian with extra entrances off Rose Avenue and Lambton Lane.

A total of 58 parking spaces will also be provided across the wider site.

A planning statement, submitted on behalf of Gentoo, claims the plans will help bring previously-developed land back into “beneficial use.”

This includes contributing to the economy through the creation of jobs throughout construction and boosting local businesses.

The statement reads: “Once occupied, the new homes will bring new residents into the area, who in turn will increase spend within the local area and support local services.

“The proposed development will improve housing choice within this sustainable and accessible location within Sunderland.”

A design and access statement also stresses that the estate’s layout will aim to “minimise opportunities” for criminal and antisocial behaviour.

It adds: “Inclusive design will ensure that roads, footpaths, crossing points and accesses into buildings will take due account of the specific needs of people, regardless of their age or physcial ability.”

Gentoo Group manages more than 28,000 properties in Sunderland.

In May, housing bosses unveiled plans to spend more than £400million on improving existing stock and building new homes over the next five years.

Gentoo’s new business plan also contains a focus on building affordable homes.

Executive Director of Operations at Gentoo Group, Michelle Meldrum, said: “We’re delighted to be submitting plans for new affordable rented homes to be built at Avenue Vivian in Fencehouses, Houghton-le-Spring.

“This scheme forms part of Gentoo’s affordable homes programme which commits to investing £117m to deliver more than 900 additional affordable rented homes for residents in Sunderland over the next five years.”

Public comments can be made on the planning application until Friday, July 19 with a final decision expected by August 21.