Hundreds of objections to 64-home Sunderland housing plan
Earlier this year, Miller Homes were named as the developer for a parcel of land off South Bents Avenue – green space owned by Sunderland University.
If approved, plans for the four hectare site include a mixture of four and five-bedroom homes with private gardens and garages.
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Hide AdSince initial plans were submitted in April, around 457 objections have been submitted to Sunderland City Council (SCC) – 96 per cent of all the public comments recieved in consultation.
Concerns ranged from loss of green space / playing fields and privacy to the potential impact on congestion, health services and schools in the area.
But amended plans – submitted to the council this month – showcase a vision for the site including housing types, overall layout and measures to reduce impact on residents.
A Design and Access Statement, submitted by the applicant, states the site is “low density” with pockets of open green space planned between homes.
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Hide AdThe aim of these “green buffers”, a report states, is to “soften the impact of the new development” between the new homes and nearby residents.
It also argues the site is “sustainable”, will create jobs during construction, bring the vacant site to “beneficial use” and contribute to the “modernisation of housing stock”.
Under current plans, a single access is proposed off South Bents Avenue with a highway route running through the site and secondary routes splitting off to various properties.
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Hide AdA traffic assessment adds there will be 128 car parking spaces across the site – as all homes have a double drive – while visitor parking will be provided at one space per five homes.
A decision on the plans is expected to be made this year.
To view the designs, visit: www.sunderland.gov.uk/online-applications and search planning reference 18/00609/FU4
Applications and drawings are available to view at SCC’s Customer Services Centre in Fawcett Street between 8.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday.
Comments can also be made in writing to the council’s Head of Planning and Regeneration at P.O.Box 102, Civic Centre until October 7.
Chris Binding , Local Democracy Reporting Service