A North East construction firm has been chosen as the preferred contractor on a major housing scheme in the region.
Gateshead-based Tolent will lead the construction of 132 homes on the Riverside site at Sunderland, the first of 1,000 homes planned on the former Vaux brewery plot near the city centre.
The project will see Tolent using modern methods of construction, renewable energy and smart technology to reduce the carbon footprint of the development.
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After being selected as preferred construction partner by Sunderland City Council, Tolent is expected to start enabling works on the site within the next few weeks.
The Vaux neighbourhood will be the site of the 2023 Sunderland Future Living Expo, which aims to showcase the new homes and the aspirational lifestyle offer that Sunderland can provide.
Sunderland City Council leader Graeme Miller said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have selected Tolent as our preferred partner to take forward our flagship residential scheme at Riverside Sunderland. The housing developments on Riverside Sunderland will be world-class, and Tolent are a fantastic partner, based locally and capable of building the stunning properties we are aspiring to develop on this site.
“We’re innovating with this scheme, using modern methods of construction, renewable energy and smart technology that align to our low carbon and smart city ambitions, and that will also allow our future generations to learn how to build the homes of the future.
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“We’re proud to work with Tolent – a firm that will deliver significant social value – to ensure that these new homes deliver the maximum local advantage possible.”
The contract with Tolent is expected to be confirmed in November. As part of the programme, the company will deliver over £17m of social value activity including supporting local jobs, apprenticeships and placements, plus a commitment to spend in regional supply chains and engage with local community groups.
Tolent chief executive Andy McLeod said: “We are thrilled to have been named preferred construction partner on what will be a transformative project for the City of Sunderland. The scheme represents a unique opportunity to redefine the way we construct homes in the region and will allow us to deliver new skills to local people and support the growth of new regional supply chains.
“It will also be great to be back at Riverside Sunderland following our work on the award-winning Beam Riverside which we completed in 2019. We look forward to working with the team again.”
Construction work on the development is expected to start in November and the first homes will be completed by May 2023.
The housing is part of a wide-ranging masterplan for Riverside Sunderland that will include residential, commercial and leisure developments.
It’s hoped the entire scheme will double the residential population of the city centre and increase employment by 50%.
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