Sunderland Council pauses plans for homeless women's refuge

Sunderland City Council will decide on the plans in Washington at a later stage

A council has put plans to establish a refuge providing accommodation for homeless women on hold.

Plans to turn a family home on Fatfield Road, Washington, into a hostel were submitted by Sunderland City Council.

But the proposal has attracted more than 200 objections from the public, with some raising concerns over potential anti-social behaviour.

The council said it would help women "gain skills to allow them to move onto living in their own property".

Plans show the accommodation would be staffed round-the-clock by three support workers, and house five women aged between 18 and 25.

The service would be operated by Changing Lives, on behalf of the council, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'No evidence'

It comes as the council has planned to convert a number of other buildings into supported accommodation for homeless and vulnerable people.

However, some projects have been delayed over similar concerns and how the authority has carried out consultations.

Locals objecting to the plans for Fatfield Rd said they feared the proposed site was close to schools, suggesting there would be increased traffic and a possible rise in crime.

But the council said Northumbria Police had not objected, and there was "no firm evidence" that the home would lead to increased anti-social behaviour.

The council said the site had been deemed suitable by Changing Lives and council officers, and the care provider had already visited the site. However, a decision was made to pause the plans following the large number of objections, and because members from its planning and highways committee had not yet visited.

The plans will be discussed further and a decision is expected later this month.