In a significant stride towards urban regeneration, two abandoned plots in Sunderland are slated for transformation under a government-endorsed initiative aimed at creating two new residential communities. The projects, located at Carley Hill to the north and Farringdon Row in the city centre, have been allocated over £3.1m by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities.

This financial backing, sourced from the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 (BLRF2) and channelled through the One Public Estate (OPE) Programme, is poised to facilitate the construction of 255 dwellings across these sites.

The funding bid, initiated by Sunderland City Council, reflects the local authority’s commitment to diversifying housing options to better align with the needs and aspirations of the city’s residents.

Expressing his enthusiasm over the successful funding allocation, Cllr Kevin Johnston, the portfolio holder for dynamic city at Sunderland City Council, remarked, “Over the next decade, we aim to unveil tens of thousands of new homes to cater to our residents’ requirements, both present and future. These ventures are instrumental in realising our ambitions.”

The funds earmarked for Carley Hill are destined for the remediation of 4.28 hectares of brownfield land, paving the way for a 115-unit housing complex. This project, undertaken by Gentoo, encompasses a variety of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, alongside two-bedroom bungalows and apartments. With the first batch of homes anticipated to be ready by Spring 2025, 87 of these units will be designated for affordable rent.

Joanne Gordon, the Homes and Development Director at Gentoo, accentuated Gentoo’s resolve to mitigate the affordable housing deficit in Sunderland by offering new, superior-quality, and energy-efficient homes. The Cricketers Hill project at Carley Hill marks Gentoo’s tenth affordable housing initiative in the city, thereby expanding homeownership and rental opportunities for Sunderland’s populace.

Farringdon Row, representing the second of four novel residential districts under the visionary Riverside Sunderland urban revitalisation agenda, is set to host 140 new homes on a brownfield site overlooking Riverside Park and the River Wear. This development, boasting robust connectivity to Sunderland City Centre, heralds a futuristic living proposition designed to entice both new and existing residents to the vibrant city core.

The homes at Riverside Sunderland, nestled amidst the orchards and allotments of Kingsley Gardens and in close proximity to Riverside Park, epitomise an accessible, attractive, and ecologically diverse urban oasis.

Cllr Johnston further elaborated on the transformative potential of Riverside Sunderland, describing it as one of the UK’s most exhilarating urban regeneration blueprints. With an estimated capacity to provide city centre accommodation for up to 2,500 residents upon fruition, this initiative stands as one of the UK’s most ambitious housing projects. “The four new neighbourhoods, inclusive of Farringdon Row, are set to significantly rejuvenate the city’s economy while propelling Sunderland to the forefront of sustainable urban development. It’s an incredibly thrilling phase for all stakeholders involved with the city,” Cllr Johnston added.