Plans for major housing development submitted to Sunderland City Council

Earlier this month, Homes by Esh and Hellens Group applied to Sunderland City Council to develop land south west of Springwell Village.

This includes building 75 homes with associated landscaping, public open space and a children’s play area, alongside an access from Mount Lane to the south.

The 3.78-hectare site, currently used as grazing land, has been allocated for residential development as part of the council’s Core Strategy and Development Plan 2015-2033.

A planning statement from developers states the housing would represent a “sustainable and natural extension to Springwell Village.”

Two, three and four-bedroom units are planned, with larger detached houses aiming to respond to market needs for such housing in Washington.

Each dwelling would have a front and rear private garden and a total of 15% of properties on the site would be classed as affordable housing.

Applicants have also said that the estate’s design would make a “positive contribution to the character of the area.”

However a community consultation arranged by developers, which saw 100 households respond, prompted a mix of positive and negative comments.

Concerns ranged from the proposed access route and the impact on the local traffic network to ‘overdevelopment’ of the site and impacts on local facilities and services.

A ‘statement of community involvement’ from the applicant states developers are “open to further discussions with key stakeholders” during the planning process.

It goes on to say: “Overall, it is considered the proposals to deliver 75 new dwellings on the site are not supported in principle, but could be viewed more favourably subject to overcoming or responding to common concerns.

“The applicant has undertaken a range of detailed assessments and investigations in order to investigate and address the identified concerns and to demonstrate that a sustainable and high quality development can be delivered which will not unacceptably impact upon the area.”

A decision on the plans is expected by the end of December.

Comments can be made by writing to the council’s planning department or visiting its online portal.

For more information, visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/online-applications and search planning reference: 20/01754/FUL

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