Sunderland to start on new local plan
At its cabinet meeting this week, the council is expected to greenlight the start of work on a simplified document outlining the direction of major developments across the region over the next 15-20 years.
If the cabinet approves starting the process for a new local plan, a four-week scoping assessment will be carried out in September, with a view that the first draft report is ready by June next year and the plan is adopted by June 2029.
Following government reforms to the planning system, the focus will be on moving towards simpler planning documents and a more digital, delivery-focused plan. The local plan will set out the authority’s ambitions for supporting the delivery of new homes, jobs, and infrastructure across the city.
The city’s newly appointed cabinet, which is meeting for the first time, will discuss the plan on 25 June.
Currently, Sunderland’s plan is made up of the Core Strategy and Development Plan (adopted in 2020 and reviewed in 2024), the International Advanced Manufacturing Park Area Action Plan (adopted in 2017 and reviewed in 2022), and a small number of older policies that remain in force but carry limited weight.
The council concluded in 2024 that the Core Strategy remains up to date, while work is continuing on an updated plan for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, with a draft consultation completed earlier this year.
Cllr Chris Eynon, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We want to see development that is connected to our communities. We want people in Sunderland to understand what the council is delivering on their doorstep, and the impact it will have on their city and on their lives – whether it’s about creating new jobs, new places for them to enjoy or new homes for them to live in.
“This decision represents the start of the journey and there will be plenty of opportunities for local communities to engage with the process along the way, including an early engagement exercise on the scope and content of the local plan which is expected to commence in September.”
It follows the news that Sunderland City Council has signed a pre-development agreement with Muse to further regenerate the Sunniside area of the city, which forms part of the Riverside Sunderland Creative Mayoral Development Zone.
