Sunderland Conservatives welcome the news that 574 new affordable and supported homes will be built in the city by 2025, as a consequence of the council receiving a £1.6million grant from Homes England.

This injection of funding from central government is invaluable, as it will help the city to meet future housing demand - with the population of Sunderland expected to rise to 286,000 by 2033.

Shadow Cabinet member for Dynamic City Michael Dixon said:

“It has taken far too long for Sunderland’s Labour Council to adopt this policy, content instead to watch from the side-lines as the vast demolition of Council housing took place and acres of land remained vacant for many years. It will take decades to make this up, but thanks to Conservative Government funding a start has been made.”