Riverside regeneration gets £30m funding boost

The regeneration of the area includes the New Wear Footbridge

A scheme to transform a city’s former industrial heartland into a new urban quarter has been given £30m in additional funding.

Sunderland City Council and Homes England have agreed a funding package that will help speed up the implementation of the Riverside Sunderland Masterplan.

The government’s housing and regeneration agency will provide £29.75m to support the delivery of critical infrastructure.

The masterplan includes the New Wear Footbridge and the creation of connections between the new residential development sites at Sheepfolds, Vaux and Farringdon Row.

Previously approved council funding of £49.94m, will take the infrastructure investment to almost £80m.

About 1,000 new homes will also be built as part of the scheme.

City council leader Michael Mordey said: "Securing investment on this scale is only possible because we commit and then deliver, time and time again.

"This is a fantastic vote of confidence in our plans for a dynamic, vibrant new urban residential district."

Homes England chief executive, Peter Denton, said it was a privilege to help "breathe new life into a place of huge historical significance for the area".

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