On behalf of Sunderland City Council and Gleeds, DPP were appointed to provide planning services in respect of proposals for Culture House; a new cultural community hub, primarily functioning as a library alongside events, creative and café spaces in Sunderland City Centre. The project is a crucial part of the Riverside Sunderland Masterplan and the Council’s strategy to renew and reshape the city centre.

ACHIEVEMENTS

DPP were responsible for co-ordinating and managing the planning application submission. This involved undertaking early pre-application discussions with the LPA and Historic England. DPP prepared the detailed planning application and liaised closely with the project team to obtain the information required to support the planning application and submitted the application within the required timescales.  

DPP also provided advise to the client regarding early demolition of the existing buildings on site and subsequently prepared and submitted a Demolition Prior Notification Application.  

The application was submitted in late 2021 and was approved at planning committee in March 2022.