Plans for new apartments for homeless to be built on the site of former pub in Pennywell

Plans have been submitted to Sunderland city council to build new apartments on the empty site once occupied by a Pennywell pub.

The Eagle on Portsmouth Road was demolished in the 1990s and the site has been empty ever since.

Now it is proposed a “dozen” apartments specialising in accommodating homeless people are built on the site.

A spokesperson for the council said the city is seeing an increase in homelessness and it had a “social duty to help people who find themselves without a home”.

“This application from MCC homes is for self-contained apartments for vulnerable people who need support and a safe place to live while they look to secure a new home,” they added.

“As with all applications, this proposal will be considered on its merits and with regard to national and local planning policies.”

In its application, MCC Homes said the housing would be provided for single males who would be supported so they could “gain the skills to allow them to move on to living in their own property”.

Residents are expected to live in the building for six months and support staff would be provided by a “specialist partner” procured by the council, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The application said staff would “manage any challenging behaviour” and added a curfew would be in place for residents between 23:00 and 07:30.

“Residents will not be permitted to receive any visitors, unless by prior agreement with support staff and only during office hours,” it added