New era of affordable homes in Sunderland as approval granted for 170 Gentoo properties across the city

Major plans created by Gentoo Group for 170 new homes were given the go-ahead by Sunderland City Council this week.

The properties are spread across six development sites on Wearside and will all be offered at affordable rent.

This is part of the housing association’s plans to bring 900 additional homes for rent and shared ownership to the city by 2024.

The council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee approved the applications at a virtual planning meeting on Friday, November 20.

More than 730 people are set to move into the new homes once they are completed.

The approved housing sites include:

:: 41 houses and bungalows at Keighley Avenue, Central Downhill

:: 71 houses and bungalows at land west of Hylton Lane, Downhill

:: 11 houses and bungalows at Cricklewood Road, Hylton Castle

:: 24 houses and bungalows at Eastbourne Square, Carley Hill

:: 10 houses at Prestbury Road, Pennywell

:: 13 houses at the former Conishead Centre, Silksworth

Working in partnership with Homes England and Sunderland City Council, the multi-million-pound investment aims to kick-start economic and social recovery in the city with the creation of 279 jobs on the new sites and £5.5 million extra spend in the city and region.

All applications were considered separately at the virtual meeting and won support from the planning committee.

Councillor Michael Dixon welcomed the plans and described the meeting as a “very important night for us all.”

Addressing a Gentoo representative directly at the meeting, he said: “I think tonight has been very positive and I commend the direction you’re taking your housing policy in, especially with the affordable rents.”

Nigel Wilson, chief executive officer at Gentoo Group, also welcomed the planning approvals.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “I’m extremely delighted that these major developments in Sunderland have been given the go ahead, cementing our commitment to delivering more genuinely affordable homes for the city’s residents.

“For us, delivering affordable homes is about more than simply building new homes.

“By creating safe and secure housing we’re benefiting the emotional wellbeing, financial stability and health of the city’s residents and this is something we take pride in.

“Approval for these six sites mean we can start providing hundreds of high-quality, modern and spacious homes for affordable rent in Wearside and create better homes for thousands of residents over the next four years.”

Gentoo’s development plan aims to create modern, contemporary and spacious house types to meet the varying needs of the city’s residents, including bungalows for Sunderland’s ageing population.

Earlier this year, the housing association submitted plans for a major £45 million investment into affordable housing following a public consultation across the city.

The group is expected to start construction on its first sites in January 2021.

For more details on the sites, visit Gentoo’s website: www.gentoogroup.com/newhomes

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