College's business park campus plans resubmitted

The college provider hopes to convert an empty office block at Doxford International Business Park

Plans for a college campus on a business park are back on the table after a bid was resubmitted.

UK Management College (UKMC) withdrew proposals for the site at Doxford in Sunderland after the council said the site was in a "primary employment area" and did not "justify the loss of employment land".

An empty office block could be converted to offer courses in health and social care and fashion design.

The resubmitted plans said given the "high vacancy levels" at Doxford International Business Park, there was "considered to be sufficient flexibility within the city's overall employment land supply to justify the proposed change of use".

Labour-led Sunderland City Council said the land was safeguarded for certain business uses such as offices, general industrial and storage and distribution "which are considered essential to the long-term success" of the city.

It asked the applicants to provide a justification for an exception, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

College provider UKMC said the development would deliver stability as it was for long-term use, while providing "immediate educational provision" for more than 1,500 students and between 40 to 60 staff.

The planning application for 1 Grayling Court was withdrawn on 14 November.

'Economic benefits'

A statement submitted with the new application noted that the "office and employment market in Sunderland was undergoing a notable period of transformation".

The planning statement added: "The introduction of an educational facility in this location would not undermine employment land objectives but would instead deliver significant economic and social benefits, including skills development, job creation and sustainable reuse of vacant built stock."

Heather Fagan, Liberal Democrat councillor for the Doxford ward, said: "Whilst I appreciate that it may be deviating away from the intended use of office space, the reality is that we have numerous empty buildings on Doxford International that are not being utilised.

"Therefore I think we need to give fair consideration to alternative uses to some of these buildings and this would be a suitable use in my view."