£12m major retail site proposed

City bosses have insisted a planned £12million ‘major new retail scheme’ will ‘complement’ existing shops in Houghton.

Proposals for the former Houghton Colliery site have been given the green light, paving the way for an “expansion” of the town centre.

The decision by Sunderland City Council chiefs means the land, in Newbottle Street, is “no longer required for open space purposes” and opens the door for it to be sold to the Hellens Group, a developer and housebuilder.

Rebecca Atkinson, cabinetmemberfor“Dynamic City”, said: “[It will enable] the comprehensive redevelopment of the site on the edge of Houghton town centre. And it will expand and complement the current town centre and local retail offer in Houghton.”