Homes England, the government's housing and regeneration agency, has confirmed a £27.7 million investment for the Sheepfolds neighbourhood in Riverside Sunderland. This funding is intended to transform a former industrial site into a residential area, which is planned to be the largest neighbourhood within Riverside Sunderland, featuring more than 350 homes.
The North East Mayor has already contributed £10 million to complement Homes England's funding package. This announcement is part of an ongoing collaboration between local authorities, Homes England, and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, which recently established a new delivery partnership to accelerate growth and house building across the North East.
Tom Bridges, Executive Regional Director at Homes England, stated that the funding will enable the delivery of the next phase of Riverside Sunderland. Cllr Chris Eynon, Leader of Sunderland City Council, highlighted that the investment will facilitate infrastructure and public realm delivery, improving connectivity and integrating the neighbourhood with the city centre.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness noted that the new Sheepfolds neighbourhood supports Sunderland City Council's broader ambition to deliver over 1,000 new homes across the city centre. The investment will also enable the delivery of high-quality infrastructure, including new roads, utilities, and active travel routes.