Work on the first phase of a scheme that will create a village of sustainable family homes in Sunderland is set to begin next week.
Miller Homes will be the first housebuilder on the newly named Potters Hill site, which spans land behind Chapelgarth and Moorside.
The wider scheme, which is being brought forward by Siglion, will deliver more than 700 homes, with this first phase providing two, three, four and five-bedroom houses.
Potters Hill will cover a 112-acre area, and will be delivered in phases, with individually designed developments being completed one by one. The Miller Homes development will cover land to the south west of the site, covering 17 acres and creating 160 homes.
John Seager, chief executive at Siglion, said: “We’re delighted that Miller Homes will be the first housebuilder to start work on what will be a stunning new community for Sunderland.
“Sunderland South is a beautiful part of the city, and one that has huge potential to provide properties that meet the area’s future housing needs. This is a really exciting step forward for a place that we are confident will attract huge interest. We look forward to supporting Miller Homes as they move forward.”
The scheme has been ‘design-coded’ by Siglion, meaning there will be commonality across the whole Potters Hill estate, with a requirement for plenty of green open spaces, soft landscaping and pathways to open up new walking routes for local people to enjoy.
The vision is to create a high quality, sustainable housing development that will appeal to a wide range of people, and to increase the number of quality, family homes available in the city in order to meet the needs of existing families and those moving into Sunderland to take up employment opportunities.
Mark Bayliss, Regional Technical Director for Miller Homes North East, said: ”We are delighted to be involved in the first phase of homebuilding at Potters Hill. Our plans have been well considered and with our strong track record of delivering high quality new homes in the North East, we look forward to playing a role in the creation of a vibrant new community in Sunderland South.”
Councillor Stuart Porthouse, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said “Siglion’s agreement with Potters Hill’s first housebuilder is a significant step forward, as a key part of the council’s five year housing strategy.
“The right mix of good quality housing of all types, sizes and tenures will underpin our skills offer to new business investment by meeting the needs of our current and future residents.
“We have developed a housing strategy that will deliver desirable new homes, and offer more choice in housing within beautiful communities, a key part of the city’s ongoing economic development. This new scheme will bring 750 attractive properties to the south part of Sunderland, which is a key development area for the city, and we know that the natural assets of Potters Hill, teamed with its excellent location and commuter links, will make this a hugely popular location long into the future.”
The Potters Hill scheme protects the woodland areas that surround the development and has beeninfluenced by the existing landscape and natural features of the site.
“There will be recreational routes through this development and the others to follow, based on existing well-loved footpaths, as well as plenty of open green parks that residents will be able to enjoy,” said John Seager.
“Across the whole Potters Hill site, when it is fully developed, we will deliver 13.5 hectares of natural green space – the equivalent in area to over 18.2 full size football pitches. It will be a very pretty place and a fantastic place to live.”
To keep up to date with plans for Potters Hill, visit www.potters-hill.com.