New jobs to be created at £15m Sunderland colliery retail redevelopment

A former Sunderland colliery which has stood empty for 40 years will be transformed into a £15m retail development if plans are given the go-ahead.

Washington-based Hellens Group has submitted plans to Sunderland City Council to turn the Houghton Colliery site, which closed in 1981, into a scheme which would bring numerous retailers to the town centre.

It says the development would enhance choice for local residents and draw people back into the area to support existing shops and businesses.

Spanning 3,600 sq m, the scheme would create a number of new retail jobs as well as opportunities for local people and businesses during the construction phase. If plans are approved, it is expected that work on the scheme could begin by Spring 2021.

Gavin Cordwell-Smith, chief executive of Hellens Group, commented: “We are delighted to be moving forward with the proposals for a new retail development in Houghton-le-Spring to complement the existing retail offer.

“The local residents have been waiting for a number of years to see something happen on the site. We hope to attract some well-known brands to the site and enhance the existing shopping offer for the residents of Houghton-le-Spring and the surrounding areas.”

Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, added: “This is a significant investment that will be transformational for the Houghton area, bringing with it jobs for local people and an enhanced retail offer for the town.

“Importantly, it will complement the existing offer in the area, creating a more compelling reason for people to shop locally in Houghton, which is vital to support the businesses that are already operating in the area.

“This site used to provide the economic heartbeat of Houghton, supplying livelihoods for most of the families in the town – it is only fitting that once again it will be a source of hundreds of jobs and help drive prosperity in the town.”