Plans lodged for Sunniside co-living scheme

A £5 million plan to transform long-underused buildings in Sunderland city centre into a co-living development for up to 86 residents has been submitted to the city council.

Sunderland-founded Nova Co-Living has lodged plans to restore Arngrove House and the Victorian terrace at 3-6 Frederick Street, creating 63 private studio suites in the Sunniside Conservation Area.

If approved, The Arngrove development would bring two long-vacant building groups back into use while increasing the supply of city centre housing for young professionals, graduates and key workers.

The scheme would feature a staffed reception, daily on-site management and more than 400sq metres of shared facilities, including a communal kitchen and dining area, residents’ lounge, co-working space, fitness suite, games room, private dining room and rooftop terrace.

The proposal represents a private investment of more than £5 million and is intended to complement Sunderland’s wider city centre regeneration programme by introducing new residents to support nearby businesses and cultural venues.

Designed by London studio Tigg + Coll, the development aims to retain the historic character of the Frederick Street terrace while giving Arngrove House a new future as the main entrance to the scheme.

The interiors draw inspiration from Sunderland’s industrial heritage, incorporating references to the city's shipbuilding, glassmaking and rope-making industries.

Ari Aftergut, founder of Nova Co-Living, said: “Sunderland is undergoing a remarkable transformation, and The Arngrove is intended to contribute directly to that momentum.

“This is a major private investment in the city centre, bringing long-underused buildings back into active use and creating a new kind of professionally managed city living.

“Our ambition is to set a new benchmark for professionally managed city living in Sunderland.”

The application has been submitted to Sunderland City Council and is awaiting validation before entering the formal planning process.

Subject to planning approval, The Arngrove will become Nova Co-Living’s flagship development.

The company is also progressing further co-living schemes on Newcastle Road in Sunderland and Albemarle Street in South Shields.

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