Placefirst has secured planning consent for a new residential neighbourhood on Farringdon Row in the Riverside Sunderland regeneration project.
The build-to-rent developer-operator will deliver 165 homes on the 4.57-acre brownfield site, comprising a mix of 67 two- to three-bedroom homes and 98 one- to two-bedroom apartments.
Farringdon Row is the second residential neighbourhood within Riverside Sunderland, which will see up to 1,000 new homes and 1m sq ft of office space delivered in the former industrial heart of the city.
Placefirst worked collaboratively with Sunderland City Council, the North East Combined Authority and Homes England to secure funding to support the delivery of its development on the brownfield site.
Alun Davies, head of planning at Placefirst, said: “Amidst an ongoing housing crisis, the urgency to deliver better rental options in cities has never been greater. By working closely with Sunderland City Council we’re pleased to have been able to fast-track the progress of this development to help realise Sunderland’s potential as one of the North East’s most vibrant and sought-after locations.
“There doesn’t need to be a compromise between high-quality sustainable housing, green spaces, and accessible city centre living – and Farringdon Row’s sustainability credentials, abundant greenery and central location show our commitment to delivering all three. We look forward to continuing to serve Sunderland’s growing communities, ensuring our homes meet the city’s evolving needs, as we start on site later this year.”
Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for business, housing and regeneration at Sunderland City Council, added: “I am delighted that plans for new homes at Farringdon Row will – very soon – be under construction, creating more city centre accommodation that will boost the number of residents living in the heart of Sunderland.
“Riverside Sunderland is a critical driver for the regeneration of the whole of the city centre, as we know that – by increasing our residential population and driving more businesses to locate here – we can deliver the critical mass of people needed to support our retail core and leisure venues, in turn uplifting the whole area. It’s a massive step forward in a part of the city that is – quite simply – unrecognisable from the place it once was.”
Placefirst’s project team included local architects ID Partnerships, development consultants IC Planning, sustainable engineering consultants Cundall, landscape architects LUC and mechanical and electrical engineering consultants TACE.
