Oceander CIC has today published the following statement regarding its Dundas Street homelessness service in Sunderland.

The 19-room service now stands empty following compliance with a Breach of Condition Notice, while the retrospective planning application intended to regularise its use remains under consideration.

We remain committed to working constructively with Sunderland City Council to find a solution that protects homelessness provision, residents, staff and the wider community.

Sunderland Community Interest Company Oceander has called for an evidence-based review of the enforcement action regarding its 19-room homelessness service on Dundas Street, after the notice resulted in the service being emptied, with all 19 rooms now out of use.

Oceander says it has worked with Sunderland City Council’s planning, licensing and building control teams since April to resolve issues relating to the site.

Planning timeline

Oceander says it complied with the formal 14-day deadline subsequently set by Planning. On 18 August, the council’s Planning team advised Oceander in writing that an application must be submitted within 14 days and that failure to do so may result in enforcement action.

The council then issued a Breach of Condition Notice on 24 August, just six days later. Oceander subsequently submitted its retrospective planning application, 26/01857/FUL, on 26 August, within the 14-day period it had been given.

“We were given a deadline, and we hit it,” said Oceander CEO Emmanuel Lewu.

“However, I’m struggling to understand why enforcement action was taken before that period had expired. We have repeatedly asked the council to explain the sequence of events and the reasoning behind the decision.”

The notice required the use of the building for non-student accommodation to cease. On 27 August, the council advised Oceander that it would make no new allocations to the property pending clarification of the planning status.

It is important to distinguish this planning dispute from Oceander’s wider relationship with Sunderland City Council. Oceander’s concerns relate specifically to the handling of this case by the council’s Planning team, rather than the council as a whole.

The organisation has worked positively with Housing Options and other council services, with all placements at Dundas Street made through the council’s referral pathway. Council officers visited the premises and elected members have also visited the service and spoken positively about the work being carried out there.

When Oceander asked Planning to withdraw the Breach of Condition Notice or extend the compliance period while the retrospective application was determined, Planning refused to withdraw the notice but expressly invited the recipient to submit a formal extension request.

That request was submitted on 17 September.

No substantive decision had been communicated by the time the compliance period expired, despite further requests for the extension, a shorter extension, a refusal with reasons, or a short extension to allow the request itself to be determined.

“We believe our relationship with the council has been open and cooperative, which makes this outcome particularly difficult to understand,” said Oceander Director Matthew Blair-Vincent.

“Council teams have visited the Dundas site, referred residents to us through the Housing Options route and worked directly with us throughout.

“Our concern is specifically with how this planning case has been handled. Planning invited a formal extension request, that request was made, and we still reached the compliance deadline without a substantive decision on it.”

Crime and anti-social behaviour concerns

In relation to reports regarding criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, Oceander requested that the council provide documentation, including details of specific incidents linked to the property.

Oceander stated that while it takes any report of anti-social behaviour seriously, incidents must be correctly attributed.

Having reviewed its own CCTV footage and resident records, Oceander said it found that several reported incidents did not, in its assessment, involve its residents.

Oceander also said that, based on its own checks, a report concerning approximately 30 people causing disruption near a nearby pharmacy could not have involved anyone from Dundas Street because nobody was being accommodated at the property at the time.

“We take genuine reports of crime or anti-social behaviour involving our residents extremely seriously,” said Matthew Blair-Vincent.

“But before incidents are relied upon as evidence against the service, we think it is reasonable to establish whether the people involved were actually residents of Dundas Street.

“We reviewed reports against CCTV and our own records and identified examples which clearly did not involve our residents. We simply want ourselves and the council to be confident that we are looking at the same evidence.”

Impact on residents and staff

The final two residents at Dundas Street were moved out on the final day of the compliance period, leaving the service empty.

One was a veteran who has since moved into another Oceander property, although that property does not have the 24-hour staffing model provided at Dundas Street.

The other was an elderly gentleman with mobility issues, and Oceander does not know whether his new accommodation provides the same level of accessibility and support.

“Moving the final residents out was extremely difficult,” said Matthew Blair-Vincent.

“One was a veteran who has moved into another of our properties, but that property does not have the same 24-hour staffing model Dundas Street provided.

“The other was an elderly gentleman with mobility issues, and we don’t know whether his new accommodation provides the same level of accessibility and support he had at Dundas Street.”

The situation also places additional pressure on Sunderland’s homelessness provision at a time when other services have been affected by closures, including the Basis Sunderland drop-in service operated by Oasis Community Housing following eight years of service.

Proposed interim solution

Oceander proposed an interim agreement with the council while its planning application was being processed, specifically intended to avoid the outcome that has now occurred.

The proposal, made while residents were still in the building, included a maximum occupancy of nine residents, council-only referrals, no walk-ins, 24-hour staffing, CCTV monitoring, controlled visitors, ongoing multi-agency review and a transition towards an all-female service.

“We weren’t asking simply to carry on unchanged,” said Matthew Blair-Vincent.

“We offered reduced occupancy, council-only referrals, no walk-ins and retention of the existing 24-hour staffing, CCTV and safeguarding arrangements.

“It was an attempt to find a controlled middle ground while the planning application was determined.”

The loss of the Dundas Street service has also placed significant financial pressure on Oceander.

The organisation is currently absorbing as much of the staffing cost as it reasonably can, while members of staff have agreed temporary reductions in pay in an effort to protect jobs while the planning situation is resolved.

“We are absorbing as much of the staffing cost as we reasonably can, and our team have also agreed temporary reductions in pay while we try to find a solution,” said Oceander CEO Emmanuel Lewu.

“That has allowed us to keep the team together for now, but it is not sustainable indefinitely.

“If we cannot get Dundas Street operating again, there is a genuine risk that the financial impact begins to affect the rest of the accommodation Oceander provides.”

Transparency and elected representatives

Oceander has held direct talks with Councillor Andrew Ramsey and has independently contacted Lewis Atkinson MP to seek his involvement in helping to resolve the situation and protect residents.

Mr Atkinson has confirmed he is happy for his involvement to be made public and has contacted the council regarding Oceander’s concerns.

Oceander has also submitted a statutory information request seeking relevant communications between elected members and council officers concerning Dundas Street and the decision to take enforcement action.

The organisation emphasised that this step is intended to understand how the decision was reached and what issues need to be addressed, rather than to allege wrongdoing.

“We’re not accusing anybody of wrongdoing,” said Matthew Blair-Vincent.

“We simply want to understand how the decision was reached. When a decision has consequences for vulnerable residents, staff and homelessness provision, we think it is reasonable to understand the evidence and decision-making behind it.”

Next steps

Ultimately, Oceander says its priority remains finding a resolution that will allow Dundas Street to reopen, developed collaboratively with the council rather than competitively with it.

“The property was originally designed for supported accommodation and we’ve invested heavily in the personnel, safeguarding measures and operational systems required to deliver this type of service,” said Matthew Blair-Vincent.

“We still want to work collaboratively with the council and find a solution that allows Dundas Street to reopen.

“This shouldn’t be about winning an argument. It should be about addressing any legitimate planning or community concerns while protecting vulnerable people and retaining badly needed homelessness accommodation.

“Rather than solving a problem in one location only to create pressures elsewhere, we want to work with the council on a solution that protects vulnerable people and preserves effective provision.”

“We will continue absorbing as much of the impact as we reasonably can while this is resolved,” said Oceander CEO Emmanuel Lewu.

“But carrying those costs while a 19-room service stands empty cannot continue indefinitely.

“If there is no route back to operating Dundas Street, there is a genuine risk that the consequences begin to affect Oceander’s wider provision.”

About Oceander

Oceander CIC is a veteran-led Community Interest Company based in Sunderland, providing accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity across Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Founded in 2021, Oceander manages a growing portfolio of more than 30 accommodation units across five properties and works with local authorities, voluntary organisations and community partners to provide safe, well-managed accommodation for people who may otherwise have limited housing options.

Its approach combines accommodation with practical support and robust property management, including staffed services where required, CCTV and controlled access, safeguarding procedures, incident reporting and links to wider wellbeing and community support.

Oceander places a strong emphasis on responsible governance, information management and digital security and holds Cyber Essentials certification.

As a veteran-led organisation, Oceander is also a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, reflecting its commitment to supporting members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their families.

As a Community Interest Company, Oceander reinvests in the services and communities it supports, with a focus on safeguarding, responsible management, partnership working and maintaining safe environments for residents, staff and neighbouring communities.

The organisation is a landlord member of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and is registered with the Property Redress Scheme and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

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