Plans for 260 student flats approved for Sunderland, despite concerns

The decision paves the way for Sunderland University’s Forster Building, in Chester Road, to be demolished and replaced with two buildings featuring shops and homes.

But while brains behind the scheme have emphasised the need to improve the quality of accommodation for the university to keep attracting students, opponents have pointed to large numbers of un-let properties, as well as the as yet unknown impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“There’s a lot of residents in this part of town and I know they will say the Precinct is a large, mothballed accommodation site, next to the old Royalty pub, which has been derelict for about 10 years,” said Cllr Niall Hodson, who represents the city’s Millfield ward, which includes the site.

“But the application is saying there’s a justification for building a new block next to it, which doesn’t make much sense to me.”

He added: “I get that the university wants more high quality city centre accommodation, but how can they justify a new site when residents have been stuck with other derelict sites for so long?”

Cllr Hodson was speaking at the first ever meeting of the city council’s newly formed Planning and Highways (East) Committee, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

Concerns were also raised about the design of the proposed building, which Cllr Hodson claimed would lower the ‘quality of the visual landscape’.

But a report for the panel recommended giving the plans the green light, claiming it would produce ‘high quality student living accommodation’ in a ‘sustainable location’.

A statement from the university supporting the application cited research suggesting a fall in the number of students who want to live in traditional house shares, compared to those who want to live in purpose-built accommodation over the length of their courses.

Recent promotions by university chiefs in the city have seen first year medical students at the new Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing offered free accommodation, while those in their second year can claim a 50 per cent discount if they opt for university accommodation.

Following a vote, the panel agreed to approve the application, with nine members in favour and four against.

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