Housing association Gentoo is planning to invest in a new base at the former Littlewoods site in Sunderland. This move aims to bring additional benefits to both customers and colleagues.
The Hendon site has been chosen by Gentoo as the location for Eastgate Point, which will become the new home for its property services teams from summer 2026. The multimillion-pound Eastgate Point complex, a 120,000 sqft industrial project, will be developed by Promenade Properties.
It will also feature other trade units across several buildings on the site of the former retailer, along with an EV charging station and a drive-thru coffee shop. This scheme brings certainty to a site that has seen numerous planning bids put forward without any action being taken.
In 2019, the city council approved plans for a builders merchants with trade counters, but no development followed at the time. The facility will also see Gentoo’s current materials suppliers, Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS), relocate to the base.
They believe that a closer working relationship will result in an improved service, reducing waiting times for repairs and planned investment works for customers’ homes, reports Business Live.
Marc Edwards, executive director of property at Gentoo, expressed his enthusiasm: “I am absolutely delighted that Eastgate Point will become the new home of our colleagues in property, delivering maintenance and investment to customers’ homes. “We have been working tirelessly for the last 18 months to find the right location for a new home. And here we will have a brand new, purpose-built, best in class, state-of-the-art facility.
“It will be designed to make sure that, as part of the £75m service that we deliver annually through our property maintenance and investment teams, all colleagues are together in one location.”
Scott Cooper, managing director at JPS, said: “We’re delighted to be part of this exciting new chapter for Gentoo. This facility will enable us to work even closer with our partner, improving efficiencies and delivering an enhanced service.”