SUNDERLAND’S FIRST HOUSING INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS has been unveiled to help encourage more development of new homes in the city.
It was launched to an audience of housing developers, investors and registered social landlords by Sunderland City Council Portfolio Holder for Health, Housing and Adult Services, Councillor Graeme Miller, at the Housing Development Summit held at the Stadium of Light.
Last year 895 new homes were completed in Sunderland – the highest number of housing completions in Tyne and Wear – and the prospectus outlines the regeneration, investment and development partnerships in place to build upon that momentum.
It outlines a range of opportunities for both larger housing developers and smaller home builders which include larger family homes and executive housing, older people’s housing, specialist housing for the care sector and graduate housing.
Sunderland City Council’s nominated ‘Housing Champion’ Cllr Miller said: “Our Housing Investment Prospectus announces to developers that Sunderland City Council is truly ‘open for business’ and our commitment to working with all our partners to provide more, and a better choice of housing within Sunderland.
“Sunderland is an ambitious city and a great place to develop housing with £2.3 billion of capital investment over the past ten years with further regeneration planned for the city centre, and we want to share and achieve our housing ambitions with all those present at the summit and beyond.”
After opening the summit Cllr Miller was followed by a number of speakers from the council’s housing, development management and regeneration teams with delegates given the opportunity to raise questions throughout.
Chief Operating Officer for Economy and Place, Sunderland City Council, Les Clark added: “This was the second housing development summit we have held in Sunderland, and the success of the first played a key role in helping to shape the investment prospectus unveiled here today at the second.
“We have worked hard to address any concerns raised by our housing partners in this strategy, and identify opportunities for us all to work together on future new development to provide new and wider range of homes for people.”
One of the those present at today’s event was Barratt Homes Development Director, Neil Milburn who said: “I was delighted to attend today’s event, which sends out a clear message of intent from Sunderland City Council that there is support for small and medium home builders to continue the new housing developments we all need to provide the right homes in the right places.
“The Housing Investment Prospectus is encouragement for all developers to up our game. Removing risk is a key requirement to any development plans, and ideas like a small site register of land becoming available is something we all welcome.”