Historic Fawcett Street building beside Sunderland's Elephant Tea Rooms set to get new lease of life as student accommodation, under new plans

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has received an application for the Furniture Lounge building at 61-63 Fawcett Street, which sits near the historic Elephant Tea Rooms.

The planning bid is seeking permission to provide “improved ground floor retail units” and to convert the building’s vacant upper floors into student accommodation.

Plans have been submitted with supporting documents providing details of the development, which is expected to deliver 44 one-bedroom studio apartments and “associated meeting and leisure facilities”.

This includes a gym, games room, group study room, laundry facilities and more, with extension works also planned to the building’s rear boundary on Station Street as part of the development.

A supporting statement submitted to council officials adds: “The proposed scheme would be a highly desirable offering to any investor and [would] help support the huge demand for student accommodation within Sunderland.

“This development would also align with Sunderland City Council’s goal of increasing footfall of people living within the city and [would] raise the quality of housing offering to students which may otherwise consider locations such as Newcastle and Jesmond”.

As the site is located within the Sunniside Conservation Area and near listed buildings, a heritage statement was also submitted with the plans.

It was noted that a “tall traditionally designed timber shop front incorporating the new entrance to the proposed upper floor student accommodation” would be provided.

Those behind the scheme said the design would meet requirements of the conservation area and “compliment the historic character of the building’s upper floors”.

The proposed rear extension is also expected to be set back to reduce impacts on the Grade II-listed Elephant Tea Rooms and would have a “slightly subservient appearance to the listed building”.

The heritage statement adds: “In conclusion we believe the proposal will have no adverse effect on the area’s significant heritage asset, in fact once completed it will only be a positive contribution to the conservation area and preserve it in helping continue the revitalisation and regeneration of the area”.

A decision on the planning application will be made once a period of council consultation has concluded.

Information on Sunderland City Council’s website indicates a decision is expected by May 15, 2023.

For more information on the planning application or to track its progress, visit the council’s online planning portal and search reference: 23/00393/FUL