£1 land sale to build new homes
Council chiefs have approved plans to release land for affordable housing – and sell a site to the scheme’s developers for just £1.
Housing firm Gentoo is hoping to develop two sites in the Carley Hill area offering up to 225 homes and bungalows.
This includes 115 homes at the former Carley Hill School site and 110 homes on an area of open space adjacent to Fulwell Quarry.
Subject to planning permission, the new housing would be available for affordable rent and shared ownership.
According to a report prepared for Sunderland City Council’s cabinet this week, the council-owned sites are “unviable for development without significant capital investment,” due to previous uses.
To help progress development and allow Gentoo to secure grant funding, council chiefs approved the disposal of the former Carley Hill School site to Gentoo Group Ltd for £1.
A report states this figure would “reflect market value which has been confirmed by a third-party valuation”.
Council chiefs also agreed to enter into an “option agreement” that would allow Gentoo Group Ltd to secure an interest in the second site near Fulwell Quarry, known as property two, but defer completion of the sale.
This is until the necessary funds are in place and development at the former Carley Hill School site has progressed.
According to cabinet papers, the sale price of property two is also expected to be £1 due to the “extensive abnormal costs” associated with the remediation of the site.
Cllr Rebecca Atkinson, cabinet member for Dynamic City, outlined the proposals for both sites at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
“The council owns the freehold of two sites on Emsworth Road in Sunderland, the former Carley Hill School and an area of open space adjacent to Fulwell Quarry,” she said.
“The sites are currently surplus to council requirements and proposals have been received from Gentoo which would see it develop up to 225 new affordable homes, subject to receipt of satisfactory planning permission and necessary grant funding.
“The proposed developments will provide highquality affordable new homes utilising modern methods of construction and low carbon technology in keeping with the council’s objective to deliver more and better housing.
“Gentoo would directly develop, own and manage the two developments alongside its existing homes in the area.
“Survey work has revealed significant constraints associated with former land use which makes development financially unviable without significant capital investment or grant support.
“It’s therefore proposed that a sale price of £1 would reflect market value and best consideration.
“Gentoo is deemed to be best placed to deliver the proposals as a result of its ability to secure third-party grant funding and its ownership of land adjacent to property two which is required to create access to that development site.”
More information on Gentoo’s plans for Carley Hill at www.gentoogroup.com/ for-customers/find-a-home/ our-affordable-homes-plan/ carley-hill-sunderland
A higher apprenticeship is opening the doors to a career in education for a Penshaw resident.
Daniel Coyne was the hospitality manager in a café based at the Foundation of Light, Sunderland AFC’s registered charity.
His dedication and commitment to training staff was spotted by the team there and he was offered the role of Skills Tutor – teaching hospitality and home-cooking techniques to young people and their families across the city.
Alongside the position was the opportunity to develop his teaching skills through a Higher Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship (Level 5), in partnership with the University of Sunderland.
The 31-year-old said: “In just a short space of time, I’m engaging with learners so much more.
“I lesson plan a lot better and am much more prepared.
“It’s really worked well for me and I would 100% recommend the programme to anyone else wanting to develop their skills in the workplace.”
In recent months, Daniel
– alongside Rob Burns, a degree apprentice – have created a series of cooking programmes through Zoom sessions.
The University of Sunderland is currently working with more than 60 employers across the region to deliver higher and degree apprenticeship programmes. For more information, go to www.sunderland. ac.uk/more/higher-degreeapprenticeships
All of its apprenticeship participants, employees who spend most of their time in the workplace supported by dedicated study time with the university, are being celebrated during National Apprenticeship Week 2021, which runs until Sunday.