Plans to create 'creative and working neighbourhood' of 75 homes in Sunderland given go-ahead
Nile + Villiers will be made up of 75 homes and commercial space in Sunniside, Sunderland
by David Huntley · ChronicleLivePlans to create a vibrant, creative neighbourhood in Sunderland have been given the go-ahead.
The residential development, called Nile + Villiers, will be made up of 75 homes and commercial space. The aim is to contribute to the growth of the Sunniside area as a creative living and working neighbourhood within the city centre, which will aim to cater to artists and makers, and offering homes for sale and rent.
The development has been partly funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Levelling Up Fund following Sunderland City Council’s successful bid in 2021. A statement accompanying the plans said: "The development is a significant project for Sunniside and the wider city centre, bringing forward a high quality scheme with high levels of environmental and social sustainability. A key objective of the development is to support Sunderland’s City Plan in bringing a residential population back in to the city centre, offering good homes and a vibrant city life."
The applicant is Siglion, the development company owned by Sunderland City Council, which also owns the site. Siglion appointed TOWN as its development manager, client representative and planning agent for the application. The project team was made up by Xsite Architecture, Identify Consult, Civic Engineers, Clark Degnan, Apex, The Environment Partnership.
The neighbourhood will be in the area of High Street West, Coronation Street, Villiers Street and Nile Street. Part of the site is currently used as a temporary council car park, with the remaining area left vacant following demolition of previous properties. The properties were demolished in June 2023 due to issues with their structural integrity.
A statement from TOWN said: "This is an important project that will accelerate the development of Sunniside as a city neighbourhood. The project is key to the city council’s aim to grow the population of Sunderland’s urban core and complements the planned delivery of hundreds of new homes and office space in nearby Riverside. The scheme will also accelerate the regeneration of Sunniside, providing attractive new homes close to the city centre, creative businesses and cultural attractions."
The plans were approved by the council on Friday, October 18. Construction is slated to start in late 2024, with completion expected in 2026.
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