Green light for Sunderland Civic Centre redevelopment

The redevelopment of Sunderland’s Civic Centre site into a new residential community, has been given the green light.

A planning application for 265 new homes was approved at the City Council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee meeting.

North East regeneration and construction specialist Vistry Partnerships will deliver the project which, in addition to the new housing, will provide high quality public open spaces and cycling and pedestrian links, improving access to the city centre.

Of particular note is a proposal to recreate Saint George’s Square – bomb damaged during the Second World War and lost to redevelopment in the 60s – with the Grade II listed Saint George’s House as the focal point. The architecture and streetscape will be sensitive to the parkside location and the Ashbrooke Conservation Area.

The completed homes will be sold under Vistry’s house building brand Linden Homes and will range from one to four bedroomed homes, with many benefitting from views across Mowbray Park. A complex demolition programme will be undertaken to clear the site ready for the new development.

The civic centre redevelopment is part of a wider plan to build more than 7,000 new homes across the city by 2030. This will ensure that Sunderland has the volume and variety of homes it needs to attract and retain a diverse range of residents.