Plans for 75 new homes in city centre approved

Construction is expected to start later this year

Plans for 75 new homes in a city centre have been approved.

The project, in Sunderland's Sunniside area, aims to reinstate two streets demolished in the 2000s.

The development will include sustainable homes and up to 10 ground floor units for businesses and other groups.

Northumbria Police had previously raised parking concerns, but council planners said car parking on the site was "acceptable" for a site in the city centre.

Known as the Nile + Villiers community, the scheme would include a "community energy microgrid providing residents with clean affordable energy", shared gardens and raised beds for food-growing.

But the development does not offer dedicated on-site car parking, which prompted concerns from the police about "a large number of vehicles trying to use the limited/restricted parking" in the area and associated "neighbourly disputes”.

Council planners said the car parking for the site was "acceptable for a city centre-located development as the site benefits from nearby car parking and good transport links".

A supplementary report said developers had provided additional information to the police, who found there was a "positive solution" to issues raised.

It was also noted future residents could purchase permits to park in council-operated car parks, including the Sunniside Multi-Storey Car Park nearby.

'Ambitious project'

The site, bound by High Street West, Villiers Street, Coronation Street and Nile Street, forms part of the Labour-led local authority's 10-year plan for Sunniside.

An agent speaking in support of the application told councillors the scheme would transform a vacant site and that no objections had been received.

Councillor Iain Scott said the project tied in "very nicely" with the ongoing regeneration at Sunniside.

"It's a very ambitious project and this is certainly one of the key steps to making that happen, so I’m really delighted to see this today," he said.

Councillor Michael Dixon also backed the plan and said he hoped it would be "a great success".

Construction is expected to start later this year.