CONSULTANTS have been called in to draw up regeneration plans for a former colliery community.

A consortium has been briefed to develop a masterplan for a community renewal scheme for the Hetton Downs area, in Hetton-le-Hole, near Houghton-le-Spring.

The downs, near the former Eppleton Colliery, is one of two areas earmarked for regeneration schemes, totalling £7.4m, by Sunderland City Council.

Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners will also draw up a separate masterplan for a second former mining village in the Wearside area, at Castletown, in Sunderland.

The appointment follows consultations carried out by the city council in which residents, traders and community groups were invited to provide opinions on improvements they would like to see in their community.

Transport links, housing, community facilities, health, education and employment were among the areas covered in the consultation process.

Both renewal schemes followed concerns raised by residents in surveys commissioned by the city council.

Having identified what are considered the key issues and the priorities to be addressed, the council is passing on its findings to Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners. It will use them to help form the basis of the respective masterplans.

Derek Welsh, housing renewal manager for the city council, said: "We have funding from English Partnerships to cover the cost of producing each masterplan, which we envisage will take 38 weeks to complete.

"Once this has been developed, it will help us to attract additional money to take the plans forward."

Residents in both Hetton Downs and Castletown will have the chance to discuss proposed developments with the consultants as part of the masterplans process.