A major regeneration scheme intended to transform Sunderland’s former industrial heartland into a new urban quarter has received significant funding boost with £42m investment.
The investment was announced at an event in the city yesterday, with the scheme to receive £29.7m of additional Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) funding from Homes England, along with £8.1m from the North East Combined Authority’s (NECA) Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF).
The funding – announced at Expo Sunderland’s Delivering the Future City conference held at City Hall – will accelerate the transformation and implementation of the Riverside Sunderland masterplan, and will support the delivery of critical infrastructure. In addition to previously approved council funding of £49.94m, the latest allocation of funds takes the total infrastructure investment to almost £80m.
The investment is intended to underpin numerous interventions across the site, and create around 1,000 new homes, new community infrastructure and 1m sq ft of employment space, which is considered essential to Sunderland City Council’s social and economic growth strategy.
Immediate priorities include works to the New Wear footbridge and the creation of connections between the new residential development sites at Sheepfolds, Vaux and Farringdon Row.
Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Sunderland is growing its reputation as one of the most ambitious and innovative local authorities in the country, leveraging public and private sector investment to deliver a world-class place to live, work and play.
“Securing investment on this scale is only possible because we commit and then deliver – time and time again – and this is a fantastic vote of confidence in our plans for a dynamic, vibrant new urban residential district. We’re proud to be leading this from the front.”
The funding is also helping to leverage significant private sector investment, with contributions from Canada Life, Legal and General, and Placefirst Limited forming part of over £600m already invested in the Riverside Sunderland regeneration programme.
A further £4.03m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund – which is being administered via the Cabinet Office, LGA and OPE – has also been pledged, which will enable the start of a series of residential developments at Riverside Sunderland and in Sunniside.
Big investment
Bids to secure support from government and NECA have been led by Sunderland City Council, and the funding – combined – represents the single biggest public sector investment in work to create new homes in the city in decades.
The funding secured will ensure remediation work that will prepare the sites for development can be undertaken, and the council will then work with the private sector to move forward in developing new homes that will create a vibrant mixed-use community, comprising housing, offices, leisure amenity and public realm.
Kim McGuinness, North East metro mayor, said: “Everyone in our region should have a home to feel proud of, which is why I’ve made housing a central pledge of my term in office. Alongside Sunderland City Council, we are investing in Sunderland Riverside because we need more good quality homes in the North East, and particularly more social housing.
“It is fantastic to see Sunderland Riverside taking shape and know that right at the heart of this growing, thriving city we will be building the best quality homes for local people to live in.”
Dame Norma Redfearn DBE, NECA’s cabinet member for housing and land, and elected mayor of North Tyneside Council, said: “This is for the people of the North East. We won’t sit by and let land that could be used for housing sit idle. These new homes will turn what was a brownfield site into a beautiful, thriving, vibrant place where people can flourish.”
Peter Denton, chief executive of Homes England, added: “Riverside Sunderland embodies how it’s possible to breathe new life into a place of huge historical significance for the area, and I’m very happy the Agency can support what is a strong, locally-led vision to become a reality.
“It’s our job and privilege to help put these plans into action by providing funding and wider expertise, working hand in glove with local leaders to create a sustainable, high-quality place that really works for people.”
Main image: Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, with Kim McGuinness, North East metro mayor, at Expo Sunderland’s Delivering the Future City conference
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