Sunderland AFC Aligns With Council on Revised Sheepfolds Mixed-Use Development.

Roger Hampel

Image: Sunderland A.F.C. 

Sunderland A.F.C. has confirmed that revised plans have been submitted for the Sheepfolds development, a residential-led regeneration project located next to the Stadium of Light. The updated planning application, filed by Sunderland City Council, proposes a 450-home mixed-use scheme forming part of the broader Riverside Sunderland regeneration programme.

Expansion Potential Sunderland AFC

According to the club, the revised proposals incorporate design amendments aimed at protecting both current stadium operations and the potential for future expansion. A key modification includes the creation of a strengthened commercial “buffer zone” surrounding the Stadium of Light. The measure is intended to ensure that residential development does not constrain matchday activity, logistics or longer-term infrastructure ambitions.

Urban development adjacent to major football venues often requires structured zoning arrangements to mitigate operational conflicts, particularly where future capacity expansion or commercial redevelopment remains under consideration.

Regeneration and Stakeholder Alignment

Sunderland AFC and Sunderland City Council confirmed that the revised submission follows consultation between the two parties. The approach reflects an effort to balance city-centre regeneration with the club’s long-term strategic planning.

Club chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus stated that safeguarding the Stadium of Light’s long-term development had been the club’s priority throughout discussions. He added that the updated proposals align regeneration objectives with the club’s growth ambitions.

Council leader Michael Mordey described the club as a key stakeholder within the city’s regeneration framework, emphasising the importance of maintaining operational flexibility at the stadium while advancing residential and commercial development.