We've been granted approval to transform the former Carley Hill Educational Centre into an affordable housing scheme with 115 affordable homes.
The site, which has been disused since the closure of Carley Hill Primary School in 2004, will be transformed into a high-quality new residential development featuring two-, three- and four-bedroom family homes and bungalows.
As part of the exciting plans, large areas of landscaping will be created across the site and new footpaths will link the site to the existing nearby residential areas.
These homes are part of our multi-million-pound investment into creating new affordable homes in Sunderland and as such, the majority of the homes will be available for affordable rent. This means they will be available at 20% less than market rent.
To support Sunderland’s residents onto the property ladder, homes will also be made available for sale through affordable homeownership options including Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.
The properties will be built with a fabric-first approach to ensure the highest level of thermal efficiency. There will be no gas supply, and instead, the properties will run mainly on renewable energy supplied by solar PV panels and an air source heat pump, with the support of thermal battery storage. All of oue new affordable homes will also be fitted with electric car charging points as standard.
As a result of these features, the new homes will be 70% carbon neutral, with an EPC rating of A and anticipated annual energy bills of around £400 for tenants (based on current energy prices).
Joanne Gordon, Development Director at Gentoo Group, said: “This is an exciting time for affordable housing in the North of Sunderland and we’re delighted to have received approval to build these new homes on this vacant site in Carley Hill.
“Affordable housing is at the forefront of our future plans, and we look forward to work starting on the development to create these high-quality, modern new homes that more than 500 people will call home.”
Patrick Melia, Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council said: “It’s fantastic to see Gentoo continue with its ambitious programme for bringing hundreds of new affordable homes to Sunderland.
“The City Council is pleased to be working closely with Gentoo as we strive for a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland.”
Combined with the current construction of 24 rented homes at our Leeway Green development and its proposals for 64 new homes at Old Mill Road, we're bringing a new era of affordable housing to the Carley Hill area.
Work is expected to start on the £18 million pound development in early Autumn 2022 with the first homes expected to be available for tenants in 2023.
More information on the Former Carley Education Centre site, can be found here.
