Sunderland Mulberry Way Persimmon housing development refused

Sunderland City Council’s planning and highways committee this week refused plans for land at Mulberry Way in the city’s Houghton ward.

Persimmon Homes were seeking permission for 58 homes with “associated access, landscaping, open space” and a “sustainable urban drainage system.”

During a council consultation exercise there was significant public opposition, with around 122 formal objections and a 151-signature petition.

Public concerns listed in a council report included loss of greenspace,  highway safety, flood risk, wildlife impacts and the developer’s “violation of previous planning promises.”

The site formed part of a larger development granted in 2001 which included a condition which developers Persimmon “failed to fulfil”, council documents state.

A council report said developers were now “immune” from council enforcement action due to the time that had passed but noted developers “wished to mitigate the failure to provide children’s open space/informal recreation area and meadow space offsite”.

However, council planners said it was “premature” to consider housing plans until the “outstanding issue” had been addressed, adding the new application  would “result in a loss of open play space for existing residents of the adjacent estate.”

The application came before the planning and highways committee on Monday (March 30) and planning officers recommended the housing be refused.

Reasons included the historic play park issue, access worries and concerns about flood risk and ecology assessments.

Members of the public and Houghton councillors John Price and Mark Burrell spoke against the plans at City Hall.

A planning agent for Persimmon also requested the “gift of time” to address planning issues and agree details of improvements to the nearby Keir Hardie Park.

Councillors later voted to refuse the housing plans, however the decision can be appealed.

A Persimmon Homes spokesperson said it was disappointing that developers had “not been able to find a way forward” with the council to “deliver much needed new housing”.

They said they had engaged with local councillors and residents on plans to “invest in the play park at the nearby Keir Hardie Park” and added it was “disappointing that time has not allowed for these plans to be presented and for the other matters to be resolved.”

For more information, visit the council’s planning portal website and search for reference 25/01316/FUL