Go-ahead for Sunderland commercial scheme

Plans for a flexible commercial development at a Sunderland business village have been given the green light.Adderstone Projects is behind the scheme at West Quay Business Village, which comprises eight units that would accommodate a range of uses including general industry, storage and distribution and research and development.In total, the project would provide new floor space of 24,186 sq ft alongside 31 car parking spaces, EV charging points and areas for cycle storage.Construction the units would take about a year, generating 41 jobs in the process. Once operational, up to 200 jobs could be created – depending on the final mix of uses.A planning report, which was scrutinised by Sunderland Planning Committee on 28 November, said that the application looks to “capitalise on the success of the business village by brining a new complementary development”.It added that while the scheme would have “minor negative impacts” on the setting of the grade II-listed Alexandra Bridge, the economic benefits would outweigh the negative impact.Taking everything into account, the plans were backed at the meeting, subject to conditions.