Infrastructure such as the new Wear footbridge is critical to pushing Riverside Sunderland on. Credit: Homes England

Homes England provides £30m boost to Riverside Sunderland

Funding towards infrastructure provided by the national housing and regeneration agency has been added to by £12m to support brownfield housing delivery from the North East Combined Authority and central government.

Homes England’s £29.75m contribution will top up the £49.94m invested by Sunderland City Council, with the funding package now agreed.

NECA has provided £8.13m from its Brownfield Housing Fund, with 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, Local Government Association and the One Public Estate programme – also now pledged, which will enable the start of developments at Riverside and in Sunniside.

The Homes England package will underpin numerous infrastructure interventions across the site, which is mapped out to  create around 1,000 new homes, new community infrastructure and 1m sq ft of employment space.

Immediate priorities include works to the New Wear footbridge and the creation of connections between the new residential development sites at Sheepfolds on the one side of the river and Vaux and Farringdon Row on the other.

The funding also backs up private sector investment, with contributions from Canada Life, Legal & General, backer of the Maker & Faber office buildings, and Placefirst – at Farringdon Row, where plans were this month submitted – forming part of £600m already invested across the Riverside project.

Cllr 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.”

Homes England chief executive Peter Denton said: “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.”

The funding release follows the announcement of a strategic place partnership between Homes England  and North East Combined Authority last week.

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