Hetton residents hit out at ‘prison-like eyesore’ opposite homes after Gentoo development abandoned

Families in Hetton-le-Hole say their lives are being made a misery by an abandoned Gentoo housing estate construction site opposite their homes.

Residents say they feel like they are ‘living in a prison’ because they are forced to look out over the hoardings which have been put around the Eskdene Rise estate site, which was halted when builders Tolent went into administration in February.

The householders, led by Hetton Town councillor Lynsey Gibson, say they have had enough and have demanded answers from social housing provider Gentoo, which was granted planning permission to build the 86-home site on fields in January 2022. The householders say they are being ‘fobbed off’ by Gentoo and are not being updated about the future of the site, which will eventually feature affordable homes to rent and buy.

However Gentoo says although it understands the residents’ frustrations, the hold-up at the site is due to circumstances beyond its control and it was doing everything it could to get the site back up and running. A Gentoo spokesperson said: “Eskdene Rise is an affordable housing development which, when complete, will feature 86 new properties, including two, three and four-bedroom houses, two-bedroom bungalows and two-bedroom apartments.

“These properties will be available for a mix of affordable rent, Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy. With 30,000 people currently on our waiting list, the need to build more quality, affordable housing which benefits our communities has never been greater. Gentoo is committed to delivering on this, not just at Eskdene Rise, but at a number of sites across Sunderland.”

But according to Lynsey, the residents have had to endure:

• A loss of amenity as two summers have passed where children could have been playing on the fields.
• A security guard running a car engine with the radio on site from 6pm-6am.
• Residents left looking at hoarding boards in a ‘prison-like’ environment.
• Ongoing parking issues around the site.
• Not being updated and ‘fobbed off’ by Gentoo.
• Cracking in their homes which they claim is due to the ongoing work. Gentoo strongly refutes this claim, saying an independent company found that none of these issues were linked to work that had been carried out on site.
• Worrying they could be looking at this state forever as there is no deadline to the site.

“Tolent started to build for Gentoo in July 2022 on the fields near our home, from the onset we had issues; dust, noise, mud and then cracks started to appear in our homes,” said Lynsey, who lives with her partner Glenn and their three children. “It was bad enough when the site was ongoing, but since work stopped, we have been left with an eyesore. Residents are left looking at hoarding boards in a prison-like environment.

“After I complained about the noise from the security guard, I was told this will be changing to an occasional guard, but I am concerned about the noise from metal gates opening during the night.”

Neighbour Shirley Tiernan has lived in her home with her 16-year-old son for the past nine years. “We used to have a lovely view before and now we are stuck with this eyesore,” she said. “We don’t know what’s going on because Gentoo don’t tell us and we have been left looking at a dangerous building site.”

Lynsey said: “Nothing has happened since Tolent stopped work in February and I think it’s about time someone from Gentoo told us what was going on and what the plan is, especially how long we are going to have to be tortured by this eyesore. Everytime it’s windy, the hoardings are rattling and keeping us awake. Enough is enough.

“Green space was removed from the children and residents in the community over a year ago so now two summers have passed where children could have been playing on the fields.”

A Gentoo spokesperson said: “We completely understand residents living near the Eskdene Rise site are frustrated that work has stopped on the site and we fully share those frustrations. Unfortunately, this was due to circumstances beyond our control, with on-site partner Tolent going into administration in February.

“But residents can be assured that Gentoo is doing everything it can to find a new partner and those discussions are ongoing. We are committed to keeping residents updated and as soon as we have an update we will share it with them. In the meantime, residents can contact us at any time with any questions they may have.

“With regards to comments made by Coun Gibson about the site, a risk assessment was undertaken and work carried out to make the site safe when Tolent left in February. Coun Gibson remains in frequent contact with senior Gentoo staff about the ongoing situation.

“As for claims that properties near the site have been damaged due to previous works on site, an independent company carried out building surveys at three properties which had reported issues and the surveys found that none of these issues were linked to work that had been carried out on site.

“The site is currently surrounded by branded hoarding boards. We fully understand that residents may not like looking at these but they are necessary to secure the site and keep it safe. We do not believe there are currently any parking issues around the site but would encourage people to report any issues they may have noticed.

“In relation to complaints about dust, noise and mud on the site, there is currently no work taking place on site, nor has there been for six months. However, when we appoint a new contractor they will produce a Construction Environmental Management Plan that will be approved by Sunderland City Council. Furthermore, after Coun Gibson raised concerns about security monitoring, we have made changes to security guard patterns. Unfortunately, they can only gain access to the site via the gate that is accessible directly from the public highway.

“There is still a green field and children’s play park adjacent to the development. In addition, work on the site will also include 6000 sqm of landscaping, long with more than 100 trees and 2,600 shrubs. Gentoo, as part of its commitment to engaging with local residents, is also consulting with the local community about the future of the play park and what they would like to see in the area.

“Residents will not be looking at the site as it is forever more. It is still Gentoo’s aim to appoint a new partner to deliver these affordable homes and resume work as soon as is possible and we will be keeping residents updated on any developments.”