Placefirst inks deal for Farringdon Row resi

Sunderland City Council has reached agreement with the build-to-rent specialist for a 165-home development.

The deal marks the next phase of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration masterplan. In all, 67 houses and 98 apartments will be delivered.

Architect IDP and development consultancy Identity Consult are advising.

Along with projects such as Vaux and the recently approved Nile + Villiers, the development takes the local authority closer to achieving its goal of delivering 1,000 new city centre homes and workspace for 8,000 people.

Other projects in the masterplan include Culture House, an eye hospital, the new Wear Footbridge – where the first two sections are now installed – the Housing Innovation Construction Skills Academy, Sheepfolds redevelopment, Riverside Park and the Maker & Faber office buildings being developed by Legal & General.

Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: “Placefirst is well known for its innovative, sustainable approach to creating rental homes so we are thrilled to be working with them to bring to market this exciting new development at Farringdon Row.

“Our ambition for Riverside Sunderland is to provide housing for over 2,500 people. That is 2,500 people whose local stores, bars and cafes will be in the city centre, providing a significant boost to the high street and local traders.

“It will also help those businesses seeking to relocate to the high-quality office space with the quality housing needed to attract skilled workers from outside of the area. It is a key part of our city masterplan and we are delighted to see it pressing ahead.”

With consultation now carried out, Placefirst will submit a planning application this autumn, with a start on site expected in summer 2025.

Alun Davies, head of planning at Placefirst, said: “As one of the UK’s most ambitious city centre regeneration projects, we know that simply building more houses is not enough to support the City’s long-term aspirations. That’s why, at Placefirst, our focus is increasing the number of high-quality housing options to ensure long-term value for local communities.

“As we prepare for this next stage in the delivery of Farringdon Row, we look forward to setting a new standard for Build to Rent (BTR) schemes in Sunderland through our professionally managed homes and playing such a pivotal role in the transformation in Riverside Sunderland.”