Have Your Say:

Washington Meadows, Sunderland

Barratt David Wilson Homes North East (BDW), and Miller Homes will shortly be submitting two separate Planning Applications, which would create a major mixed-use development at Washington Meadows. The proposals would be for:

BDW: hybrid planning application for 442 houses, 2 points of access, drainage basins, and landscaping and outline planning permission for 18,580sqm of commercial floorspace

Miller Homes: full planning application for 485 houses, access, drainage basins, and landscaping.

The vision for Washington Meadows is to create a sustainable urban extension to Washington, designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing settlement. This development will help address the pressing need for new housing and employment opportunities in Sunderland, while delivering significant benefits for both existing and future residents in the surrounding Sulgrave area.

The Applicants

As stated, the proposed development is made up of two separate Planning Applications, which would create a major mixed-use development.

Barratt David Wilson Homes North East

BDW is the UK’s leading housebuilder. BDW is dedicated to building high-quality, thoughtfully designed homes, and has been awarded the maximum 5 Stars from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for 15 consecutive years – the only major national housebuilder to achieve this.

Miller Homes

Established in 1934, is one of the UK’s largest privately-owned national homebuilders. Their purpose is to create great places where people and planet prosper, achieved through building homes and developments that foster strong communities with an emphasis on placemaking and design. Miller Homes is also recognised as a 5-star builder by the Home Builders Federation for achieving high customer satisfaction ratings in its annual survey.

Site Context

The Washington Meadows site is located immediately to the east of Washington, directly adjoining the existing urban area. The site comprises approximately 90 hectares (ha) of undeveloped land, currently used for agriculture, and is predominantly flat with scattered trees and hedgerows along its boundaries. The site is currently allocated as safeguarded land within the Local Plan (land deemed suitable to be brought forward for development).

The site is bounded by the A1290 to the south, with land further south and east occupied by major industrial and employment uses, including large employers such as Nissan, Amazon, and Unipres. This proximity to established employment hubs makes Washington Meadows an ideal location for a mixed-use development that combines housing with commercial opportunities.

The site occupies a highly sustainable location, benefiting from:

• Existing bus stops along the A1290, providing regular services to Sunderland City Centre, Chester-le-Street, South Shields, Newcastle, and Durham.
• Close proximity to the Leamside railway line, now a popular walking and cycling route following its closure as a rail corridor.
• Opportunities for green infrastructure and biodiversity enhancement, given its current agricultural use and natural features.

The Proposed Development

BDW and Miller Homes will submit separate planning applications for their respective parcels within the Washington Meadows site. Together, these applications will deliver a cohesive, well-designed neighbourhood that meets the housing and social needs of Sunderland.

Key elements of the proposals include:

• Up to 927 new homes, offering a mix of house types and sizes to cater for families, first-time buyers, and downsizers.
• Provision of affordable and accessible housing, ensuring inclusivity and choice.
• Several new access points from the A1290, supported by signalised and priority junctions to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow

• Up to 18,580 sqm of commercial floorspace, suitable for a range of uses including storage and distribution, general industrial, and light industrial.
• Significant areas of public open space, including parkland, play areas, and landscaped green corridors.
• Ecological mitigation areas and sustainable drainage systems to manage surface water and enhance biodiversity.
• A high-quality design approach, using materials and architectural styles that complement the character of Washington and its surroundings.

Benefits of the Development

The Washington Meadows proposals will deliver a wide range of benefits, including:

• Meeting local housing needs by providing a mix of homes, including affordable options.
• Supporting economic growth through the creation of new employment opportunities and commercial space.
• Boosting the local economy via construction investment and increased spending by new residents.
• Enhancing connectivity with improved transport links and sustainable travel options.
• Creating attractive green spaces for recreation and biodiversity, improving the quality of life for residents.
• Delivering a high-quality, sustainable design, ensuring the development integrates with the existing community.

The delivery of that the schemes will not jeopardise metro coming forward.

Have Your Say

Please indicate your views:

• There is a need for new homes in Washington -
  Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
  
• There is a need for additional employment units -
  Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
• The site represents a logical extension of Washington - Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
• The scheme is well designed, taking account of local features and constraints -
  Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
  
• Overall, I support the scheme -
  Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree

Next Steps

We are committed to engaging with the local community and welcome your views on the proposals. Your feedback will help shape the final plans before submission to Sunderland City Council in Spring 2026.

Please provide your comments by Monday 9th March using the contact form at the bottom of this page, or by contacting us using the contact details below. We encourage you to share this information with neighbours or anyone who may be interested in the proposals.

The Planning Applications will include a Statements of Community Involvement, summarising the feedback received and explaining how it has influenced the final design. Please note that this consultation does not replace the Local Planning Authority’s statutory consultation process, which will take place once the applications are submitted.

Contact Details

For any further information, please contact:

• Email at: engagement@spawforths.co.uk, or
• Call our consultation line on: 01924 873873