Bosses at Northumbrian Water applied for permission earlier in 2020 to build five kiosks holding control equipment at the site at Washington’s Pattinson Industrial Estate. Some concerns about the possibility of increased noise from the site caused by the new equipment. But members of Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee for the west of the city gave the proposals the green light after accepting evidence from the planning department any additional sound was unlikely to be heard over existing background noise levels. Development chiefs also approved plans for a new bungalow to be built in the garden of an existing property in Hillview Road. Cllr Juliana Heron, who represents the Houghton ward, raised concerns about the potential impact on traffic the new home could have. The panel, however, was satisfied that ‘the traffic generated by one dwelling will be very low’. Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.