Proposals for new apartments above a former city centre retail store have been lodged with planning bosses.
Earlier in July, a planning application was submitted to Sunderland City Council for the vacant PerfectHome store at 59 Fawcett Street.
The scheme aimed to convert the upper floors and roof space to create 14 residential apartments, alongside a rear extension and new rooflights.
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According to a supporting planning statement, the most recent use for the upper floors was storage/ office space.
If new plans are approved, developers aim to create five apartments on the first floor, five apartments on the second floor and four apartments in the new roof space.
In addition, the ground floor would be retained as retail space, with a slight reduction in floorspace due to the introduction of a new access door, corridor and stairway to access the upper floors.
The planning support statement claims that the proposed apartments would be “acceptable in principle, and provide much needed residential units.”
It reads:“A pre-application enquiry was submitted regarding the proposed conversion of the building to apartments.
“This considered that the principle of conversion of the upper floors of the premises would contribute to the character of Sunniside and would promote mixed use development in an area of change, supporting the vibrancy of the urban core of the city centre.”
The support statement goes on to say: “The alterations to the external of the building are largely improvements to the elevations.
“The proposals also present an improvement to the [Sunniside] Conservation Area, both in terms of design and most importantly through the reuse of existing vacant buildings.”
A final decision on the application is expected by early October.
For more information on the application or to track its progress, visit Sunderland City Council’s online planning portal and search reference: 21/01645/FUL
