For the Community
Community Roadshow
In April 2008 the arc also took part in a week-long community roadshow at The Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland. A promotional film about Sunderland arc was broadcast on a giant screen and the event gave visitors the opportunity to hear more about the arc’s plans and receive supporting information.
Here is some of the feedback we received:
"like what you are trying to achieve. It will be great when it’s on the go."
"These are great developments for Sunderland"
"When oh when will the Vaux site bloom again with a design fit for the city? The owner should be made by CPO if necessary to move forward. The people of Sunderland deserve this."
"All for it. I’m hopefully going to open a new business in Sunderland in the next year or so. Get on with it and we can all prosper."
We always welcome your feedback and views. Please do not hesitate to contact using the website contact form. Alternatively you can email us at info@sunderlandarc.co.uk or call 0191 5689880.
Vaux Community Information
During late May and early June 2003 the Vaux Bus and a touring exhibition gave the people of Sunderland the chance to see and comment on Sunderland arc’s vision for the former Vaux Brewery site.
The exhibition included a scale simulation and a virtual reality model which allowed people to 'fly' through the site on the computer screen along with the site masterplan and the architect’s drawings. The, specially converted, double decker bus visited over twenty sites in the City to enable people throughout Sunderland to share in Sunderland arc’s vision for the future of Vaux.
The Vaux Bus Tour started on the 19th May 2003 at the New Silksworth Junior School. Over the following week the bus visited six further schools, two university campuses, two sports centres, two shopping centres and the seven main shopping areas in the city. Its arrival was often a cause for celebration and Sunderland’s folk demonstrated their enthusiasm with around 5,000 people visiting the bus.

The road show ended on 24th May 2003 at Market Square in the City Centre. On this busy Saturday the Vaux Bus was a very popular temporary attraction with hundreds of visitors spending time in animated conversations with the arc’s regeneration team.
At the end of May selected highlights from the exhibition bus were seen at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens and then in early June this display moved to the National Glass Centre and, for the second week in June, to the Library and Arts Centre. While what was seen at each of these venues was of a more modest scale than the exhibition on the Vaux Bus, the response was very positive with enthusiastic feedback from many visitors.
The Vaux Bus and the Vaux Vision Exhibition were produced to ensure that Sunderland’s people had access at an early stage to Sunderland arc`s important proposals for the future of the city. Comments received from the public will influence how we proceed. Opportunities for community involvement will continue as Sunderland arc’s activities progress.
"The proposals make Sunderland a more attractive place to visit - at present there is not much to attract my family to the town. Please put the hypermarket elsewhere!"
D Atkinson, Durham
"I think that the plans for the site are brilliant and will definitely encourage more people to visit Sunderland."
H Meek, Sunderland
"I think it will be great, a great asset to Sunderland"
M Lindsay, Sunderland
"I'm so excited for Sunderland City after seeing the plans, Good luck"
J Graham, Sunderland
"The plan is fantastic. I couldn't think of anything better."
C Spoors, Sunderland
"Give the City back some pride."
GP Robson, Sunderland
"This is the kind of thinking we've needed for a long time."
JN Price, Washington
"This has to happen."
L Hopkin, Sunderland