High-street and retail hubs in Houghton, Easington Lane, Shiney Row and Fencehouses are to benefit from a £1.5m boost.
Sunderland City Council will be investing a grant awarded by the Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund to undertake a package of environmental and business improvement projects designed to support the revitalisation of town centres and high streets in Houghton and the Coalfields.
Nearly £600,000 will support the revitalisation of Newbottle Street in Houghton-le-Spring, while remaining funding will be invested into other priority locations in the former Coalfields area including Easington Lane, Shiney Row and Fencehouses, supporting high street and town centre improvements.
A raft of environmental works has already been undertaken in Newbottle Street including installation of a replacement bus shelter, repairing and painting public seating, tree pruning, painting of bollards and guardrails, graffiti removal, renewal of road-markings and hot-washing of pavements.
This second phase will focus more on greenspace including the installation of hanging baskets, troughs, trees and improving borders in and around community assets such as Houghton Library.
Businesses operating on Newbottle Street will also benefit from a range of support, complemented by a Shop Local campaign designed to inspire residents and visitors to rediscover the high street’s hidden gems.
Delivery will commence in March 2026 and continue over the next 12 months.
Councillor Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: “We’re really pleased to be leveraging Government funding to deliver improvements across all corners of the city, and as a ward councillor in the Coalfields, it’s particularly pleasing to see money being invested into high streets that I know people use and value.
“High Streets are important community hubs – places people get their essentials, support independent businesses and where strong connections are formed between residents. It’s vital that, as a council, we do all we can to support these places and ensure they’re attractive and well-maintained so people continue to use them more and more, day-in-day-out.”
The council was allocated funding from Government, and – following a review of area-based priorities with officers and members, along with feasibility assessments – work is expected to get started on the improvements later this month, and will be completed by the end of the year.