Tesco bought the site in 2002 and still own it. Tesco has plans for a Tesco Extra store, 300,000 sq ft of office space and 340 homes. This is an updated scheme, with Tesco having withdrawn its original superstore application following the arc’s rival plans.
The Vaux site is critical to the regeneration of Sunderland and the arc felt the city deserved more than to have a key gateway site dominated by a giant supermarket, which would ultimately have a detrimental effect by drawing trade away from the city centre.
Following extensive consultation, research and investigation, the arc submitted a scheme that combines housing of real quality within a regenerated environment incorporating commercial buildings, retail and leisure, which will generate thousands of new jobs and in turn help boost the city centre though increased spending and raising the city centre’s profile.
The proposals will complement plans for the neighbouring Farringdon Row site and the Galleys Gill/Festival Park area. The scheme also contains provision for public realm improvements with high quality civic spaces, a dramatic glazed canopy and a pedestrian footbridge across the River Wear linking the site to Stadium Village.
The Vaux site lies within walking distance of existing, good quality, public transport facilities (both trains and buses), meaning that it is ripe at all levels for the high density, well designed, mixed use, good quality employment and residential led development proposed by Sunderland arc.
Sunderland arc’s plans have gained significant public and private sector support, including approval from the Secretary of State (SoS) for Communities and Local Government (CLG) Ruth Kelly in March 2007. Further endorsement was given to these proposals in August 2007 following a public inquiry into planned alterations to the City Council’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP). On this occasion a Government inspector concluded that major retail development such as a supermarket was not suitable for the Vaux site, strengthening the arc’s plans for an office and residential-led development.
Sunderland arc is by no means against having a Tesco store in Sunderland. Since 2002 there has been a constant dialogue between the arc and Tesco for the acquisition of the site. Sunderland arc has always wanted to work with Tesco and would welcome its presence on a retail site which does sit right at the centre of the retail core – Holmeside.
The arc’s outline planning application for Vaux was ‘called in’ for decision by the SoS in February 2006, which is not uncommon for a scheme of this size. A public inquiry followed in June/July 2006, with the only significant objector being the landowner Tesco.
In March 2007 the SoS approved the application subject to conditions similar to those considered at the inquiry and in subsequent consultation with the parties. This was a big milestone for Sunderland arc. Tesco launched a legal challenge against the decision and we are still awaiting the outcome of this. We have been advised that it is unlikely that the hearing will take place before the early months of 2008.
UDP stands for Unitary Development Plan and is currently the document that guides new development and decisions on planning applications in the City under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990). The UDP is important in planning terms because it sets out the future of how land is used within the City, which includes the very important Vaux site.
A public inquiry into planned alterations to the UDP was held in July 2006 following the public inquiry into the arc’s plans for the Vaux site. In August 2007 the Government inspector, who was independently appointed to oversee this inquiry, concluded that major retail development should be confined to a central retail core, strengthening the arc’s plans for an office and residential-led development. This was another huge milestone for Sunderland arc’s vision for the Vaux site and its overarching strategy for regeneration. It has allowed us to confidently progress with our bid to acquire the site and clarifies the planning framework for central Sunderland, encouraging investors and developers to choose this fast-rising city.
The arc is currently in negotiations with Tesco to acquire the site.
If these negotiations fail then the arc’s partner One NorthEast has the statutory power to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to acquire the site. However, this power would only be used as a last resort and following failure of negotiations with the site owner.
The question over when the arc would hope to start work on site is dependent on several factors. If Tesco agree to sell, work could commence on site by the beginning of 2009. If a CPO is necessary this could lead to another inquiry and work would be delayed until 2010.
In the meantime, following the SoS’s approval, the arc is currently working hard with its partners to ensure progress is made in developing this site.