Plans to turn ex-school building into specialist accommodation
An old school building in Washington could be transformed into specialist accommodation for adults with learning difficulties under new plans.
Last October, Sunderland City Council lodged a planning application with its own planning department for the building off Albert Place in the Washington Central ward.
Plans included refurbishing and extending the disused schoolbuildingtoform‘15residential accommodation units with support.’
A design, access and heritagestatementfromthecouncil said the accommodation aims toprovidea“safeenvironment forresidentswhomaybetransitioning toward independent living, but are still in need of somelevelofsupportservices.”
Prior to the planning application being submitted, the council carried out consultationwithlocalresidentswhich led to changes to parking arrangements on site.
Since the plans were validated by planners on May 25, 2021, the application has gone out to consultation with a decision expected by the end of August.
Three new single-storey building extensions are proposed to make way for the development, which is expected to be owned and managed by the city council.
Accordingtoplanningdocuments,the15single-bedroom units aim to meet specialist housing needs for adults with
learning difficulties and will each contain individual kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and
living areas.
Applicants say the accommodation would cater for usersinthemediumorlong-term
and that it was “important for the design to allow a sense of ownership and familiarity to be gained by residents.”
The development also includes a proposed meeting room to be used by either support staff or as a “safe space for residents to hold personal meetings, for instance with care or support staff.”
In addition, overnight accommodation for supporting staff is planned which would “facilitate 24hr support if required.”
Planning documents outline the history of the school which was built in circa 1893 and originally known as Biddick School before being renamed and later closing in the 1990s.
Planners confirmed that the site was last occupied by the ‘Washington Church of Christ’ but is now understood to be vacant.