Sunderland's former Southwick Primary School site set to become housing estate

Plans to transform a former school site into a housing estate could be given the go-ahead next week.
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In recent years, Sunderland City Council have been progressing plans for the former Southwick Primary School site at Northern Way.

The school closed its doors in 2009 with pupils moving to a new building at Shakespeare Street.

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In 2019, city leaders agreed to sell the vacant land with social landlord Bernicia Homes taking on the project.

The former Southwick Primary School, pictured as it was due to close.The former Southwick Primary School, pictured as it was due to close.
The former Southwick Primary School, pictured as it was due to close.

Plans include a mixture of two-to-four-bedroom homes and four bungalows, all offered at affordable rent.

The layout of the development will take the form of a cul-de-sac with a single point of access at the junction of Grosvenor Street and Clarence Street.

And all properties will have front and rear gardens and two parking spaces, with visitor parking peppered around the estate.

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During consultation, five letters were submitted to the council raising concerns.

This included disruption from construction work, the proximity of the homes to a burial ground associated with the wider grounds of Holy Trinity Church, and the loss of the play park on the site.

A council report states existing boundary walls to the south and west of the cemetery would be retained with no works taking place within the former graveyard.

The county archaeologist added the former school site has “limited archaeological potential given its previous uses.”

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No objections were received from Nexus, Sport England or council highways officers, with council planners recommending the estate for approval.

They state the proposal has “clear benefits in terms of urban regeneration, housing delivery (and) the quantum of affordable housing it will provide.”

The report adds: “The proposed development is considered to offer a good quality of design, layout and landscaping and is also considered to be acceptable in terms of its impact on the amenity of existing residential dwellings.

“It will also provide future occupiers of the development a good standard of amenity in terms of outlook, privacy and amenity space.”

The council’s area Development Control Sub-Committee will discuss the housing plans on March 3.

The meeting starts at 3.45pm at Sunderland Civic Centre and is open to the public.