Cannabis farm clean-up needed ahead of demolition

Sunderland City Council resubmitted the plans for demolition

Equipment from a "large-scale cannabis operation" will need to be cleared from a building earmarked for demolition, a council has said.

Plans to demolish the building on Sunderland's High Street West were revealed in recent weeks by the city council, before being withdrawn with no explanation.

The site, which used to house Argos and Mothercare, was bought by Sunderland City Council earlier this year to support plans to "regenerate and revitalise" the area.

Now, the plans have been resubmitted with the note "numerous bags of equipment" will need to be removed as part of the works.

The previous application referred to the site as 68 – 71 High Street West and "redundant buildings".

New plans for the site still propose demolition, but refer to the site as "Co-Operative House, Argos, Mothercare and Keel Lounge 67 – 74 High Street West".

Co-Operative House is split into three commercial units, with one currently occupied by a cafe, Keel Lounge. It will remain in operation as the initial phase of demolition begins, before relocating.

The plans are part of the council's Riverside Masterplan which is "seeking a comprehensive approach to the regeneration and revitalisation" of the area.

'Cannabis operation'

Supporting documents to the planning application raised issues in vacant parts of the building.

"The principal contractor should be made aware that prior to the council obtaining the premises, a large-scale cannabis operation was being developed on the second floor of the building," the document read.

"There are numerous bags of equipment that will need to be removed as part of the works."

The document also stated the demolition works would be completed in phases, with works starting on 68-69 High Street West (formerly Argos) first.

A decision on the demolition bid will be made later this year once a period of council consultation has concluded.