Case Study
Making the case for Sunderland
Testing whether a city could realistically position itself as a location for modern methods of construction.
The Opportunity
Sunderland had the right ingredients. Land, a growing skills pipeline through the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy, strong digital infrastructure, Freeport status, and a long-standing manufacturing base.
What was missing was a clear, joined-up view of whether those elements could support a different approach to housing delivery, and whether Sunderland could realistically position itself as a location for modern methods of construction.
Homes England and Sunderland City Council came together to explore that question and commissioned a joint piece of work to test it properly.
Our Approach
Working alongside Arcadis and Modularize, we focused on building a grounded understanding of what was actually possible, not what might work in theory.
Understanding the Land
Sunderland City Council's sites were reviewed in detail to understand which could support MMC development, taking into account viability, scale, access and delivery constraints. This gave a clear picture of what a realistic pipeline could look like.
Testing Market Appetite
We worked directly with local housing associations. Through a series of workshops, we explored their confidence in MMC, their experience to date, and how comfortable they were with commissioning it. This was critical. Without genuine client appetite, any wider ambition would struggle to get off the ground.
Assessing Sunderland as a Location
The work considered the factors that would matter to manufacturers and delivery partners. The presence of HICSA and the future workforce it could support. The role of 5G and digital capability. The advantages linked to Freeport status. The labour market and cost base. All of this was tested as part of understanding whether Sunderland was a credible location for investment.
Understanding Demand
The analysis identified a requirement for around 29,000 homes across the city, which gave the work a clear sense of scale and urgency. We then developed a mission statement and a practical delivery roadmap, moving from theoretical strategy to tangible action.
The Outcomes
The work provided a clear, evidence-based position for Sunderland. It moved the conversation on from general ambition to something much more tangible, grounded in real sites, real demand and direct engagement with the market.
It formed part of the wider evidence base that supported Sunderland's successful Levelling Up Fund bid, with around £29 million awarded to support regeneration and housing-related infrastructure.
More importantly, it gave local stakeholders a clearer understanding of what it would take to deliver differently, and where the real opportunities and constraints sat. This was about testing a place properly. Understanding whether the conditions were there, and what would be needed to make it work in practice.
29,000
Homes identified across Sunderland demand
£29M
Levelling Up Fund awarded
3
Partners collaborating on strategy
