Go ahead for Sunderland apartment block for older people

Plans to create a housing development for older people in Sunderland, comprising more than 70 bedrooms, have been backed by the council.Vistry Partnerships North East are behind the scheme which will create 72 apartments, built on land south of Penshaw House and west of Greta Avenue.Of the rooms, 44 will be one-bedroom with 28 two-bedroom and a communal lounge.All of the over 55’s apartments will be affordable, and the development will include 52 car parking spaces including disabled bays.A walled garden on the site will also be restored and brought back into use as a communal garden for apartment residents.Sunderland City Council’s heritage officer said that the restoration of the walled garden will “conserve a rare survivor of its period and type, consolidate and repair the existing historic structures, and provide high quality soft and hard landscaping to create an attractive communal garden for residents”.Planning consultancy Barton Willmore submitted the successful proposals to Sunderland City Council on behalf of Vistry Partnerships North East.Work to build the new apartment complex is due to begin later this year.