Plans submitted for ‘self-storage’ facility in Houghton area, with the siting of up to 71 shipping containers proposed

Plans for a new ‘self-storage’ business on the outskirts of Sunderland have been submitted to council development chiefs.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has received an application for land at Halliwell Street, near Brinkburn Crescent, in the Houghton ward.

Applicant Linton DMC has applied for permission to change the use of the site to a self-storage facility, with the siting of up to 71 shipping containers.

Plans also include the installation of lighting columns, CCTV and landscaping.

The planning bid has been submitted with a number of supporting documents and states the land was last used as a storage depot for Northern Gas Networks.

A planning statement submitted to council officials claims the self-storage business represents a “sustainable development” and would be used for “general self-storage purposes”.

It was noted that the single-storey storage containers would be painted dark green to “reduce their visual impact” and “rented out to domestic in the main and, possibly, some commercial customers as required”.

Other works at the site include nine lighting columns, each fitted with inward-looking CCTV security cameras, around the perimeter of the site.

The planning statement adds: “In terms of vehicle trips, it will be appreciated that the layout of the site assumes that trips will be made by private car and/or small commercial vehicles such as transits, rather than any HGV traffic.

“By the very nature of such storage facilities, trip generation is light, the storage facilities being mainly used to act as long-term storage for domestic overflow from the home.

“It is accepted that some light commercial storage activity might generate more frequent trips, but this is anticipated to be by exception, not the normal pattern, this type of storage being more suited to individual needs”.

Applicants added that between two and four people would be employed at the site, if the plans were approved.

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

Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website lists a decision deadline of May 2, 2024.

For more information on the plan or to track its progress, visit the council’s planning portal website and search reference: 24/00256/FUL