Vaux Site | Sunderland | Various | Pre-planning

[denm]

Tescos are cleaning up the Site, -------it's been a blot on the Landscape for a Decade, --- so it's good to see that something is being done at last, ---if only the main problem could be resolved though, ---lets hope it's not too long before Tescos sell the site, ---then things can really get moving, ----

---this from the Echo, --


Work starts on Vaux clean-up

Published Date:
20 November 2009
By Ross Robertson
A MAJOR clean-up of the Vaux site is under way as discussions continue over its future.

Tesco has started clearing the controversial development site, which has sat unused for more than 10 years.

The supermarket firm – which owns the site – has cleared away the six-foot high weeds littering the huge riverside site and more work is planned for the spring.

Tesco had planned to create a mammoth supermarket on the former brewery land, but is blocked from doing so by planning rules.

Regeneration agency Sunderland arc wants to create 3,200 jobs building a hotel, offices and a retail development on the 26-acre plot and is pressing ahead with plans – but needs to persuade Tesco to sell up.

Tesco, however, is working to improve the appearance of the eyesore site after 1,700 people signed up to a campaign group on social networking website Facebook.

The online "Tidy up Vaux Site Tesco" group was set up by Sunderland Tory leader Coun Lee Martin, who met with the supermarket chain to discuss clear-up plans.

Jennifer Duncan, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "Following an investigation, a team has started tidying up on site. We are also continuing our discussions with (Sunderland City Council) about the Vaux and hope to resolve its future as quickly as possible."

A planning application is in for a supermarket on the run-down Sunderland Retail Park in Roker and it is hoped that if Tesco is permitted to build there, it will give up the Vaux site.

Coun Martin said: "I'm delighted Tesco has agreed to tidy up Vaux while the future of the site is resolved. The state of the site is damaging the reputation of Sunderland and creating an awful impression for visitors to our city.

"While there are many who would forgive Tesco for taking home their bat and ball given the way Sunderland Council has been behaving, they have listened to our campaign and they are acting."

Council leader Paul Watson said discussions were continuing with Tesco and said the authority and others, including Coun Martin, had raised concerns with the firm over the state of the site.

"Like everybody in the city we were displeased with Tesco letting the site deteriorate and we're pleased they decided to act."

Labour's Julie Elliott, who will stand against Coun Martin to become MP for Sunderland Central, in the next General Election, added: "The Vaux site has been an eyesore for long enough. It is great news that Tesco are tidying it up."


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[The Lambton Worm]

Its about time but I wish Tesco would fuck off and die.

[sterock85]

Originally Posted by The Lambton Worm

Its about time but I wish Tesco would fuck off and die.

My thoughts exactly.

[horokeio]

Clearing a few weeds will change nowt and is pointless. On the way to the Empire last night I saw two rats scuttling around in Dun Cow Street and another nearby on the way back to the station. No doubt rendered homeless by the needless weed-clearing.

[kingdom bhoy]

Originally Posted by The Lambton Worm

Its about time but I wish Tesco would fuck off and die.

Exactly right they should develop the Roker Retail site than piss off.

[Talisker]

I don't think this is pointless at all. Allowing the site to become overgrown isn't going to somehow shame the two sides into agreeing over what to do. It makes perfect sense to at least keep it looking presentable, and this should have been an issue from the moment the brewery was demolished.

As for tesco 'fucking off', well I'm really starting to think that the best thing is for them to stay and sort this mess out with the help of the council. The fact is that tesco at least have the capital to build something, unlike sunderland arc.

[The Lambton Worm]

Originally Posted by Talisker

As for tesco 'fucking off', well I'm really starting to think that the best thing is for them to stay and sort this mess out with the help of the council. The fact is that tesco at least have the capital to build something, unlike sunderland arc.

But we don't want a mammoth supermarket and Tesco & the council have been trying to sort something out for 10 years. That's how the whole Vaux fiasco came about.

Sunderland Arc have the lowie, they just can't use it because of fucking Tesco.

[Talisker]

There's no way sunderland arc could do anything even if tesco handed them the site on a plate for free right now. They aren't a developer, only a pennyless regeneration company. With the state of the economy no developer is going to be interested, especially if they're having to include the costs of purchasing the site from tesco.

Sunderland arc haven't mangaged to get anything done at farringdon row despite the lack of land ownership problems. All they could do is split the whole masterplan into small phases and appeal for developers to build each phase before moving on to the next one. A few years ago that's exactly what they proposed to do, working from the piers gough masterplan. It was another completly stupid waste of money becuase they were still asking for a developer to build something for them on land they didn't own.

I admit, Tesco's plans for sunderland and gateshead are a completely shameless attempt to sneak superstores into city centre locations under the guise of 'regeneration'. You get a huge multi-use development with retail, hotel, offices and residential elements, oh, and by the way a tesco supermarket. It's sneaky in the extreme, but wouldn't be half as bad if the plans were'nt such complete garbage. Seriously the tesco plans featured some of the worst architecture I have ever seen.

But my point is that it's a better starting point than letting a useless quango take over the site. The council should work harder at trying to bargain with tesco to improve their designs, possibly taking in elements of the piers gough plans. It's the only way anything is going to get done here.

Unfortunately i think your right. Maybe they should take up Cllr Lee Martin's idea and turn the site into a public space by turfing it over. Not ideal but a nice lawn will at least make the area look less like a bombsite. Maybe in a decade things will be different.

Originally Posted by Talisker

There's no way sunderland arc could do anything even if tesco handed them the site on a plate for free right now. They aren't a developer, only a pennyless regeneration company. With the state of the economy no developer is going to be interested, especially if they're having to include the costs of purchasing the site from tesco.

Sunderland arc haven't mangaged to get anything done at farringdon row despite the lack of land ownership problems. All they could do is split the whole masterplan into small phases and appeal for developers to build each phase before moving on to the next one. A few years ago that's exactly what they proposed to do, working from the piers gough masterplan. It was another completly stupid waste of money becuase they were still asking for a developer to build something for them on land they didn't own.

I admit, Tesco's plans for sunderland and gateshead are a completely shameless attempt to sneak superstores into city centre locations under the guise of 'regeneration'. You get a huge multi-use development with retail, hotel, offices and residential elements, oh, and by the way a tesco supermarket. It's sneaky in the extreme, but wouldn't be half as bad if the plans were'nt such complete garbage. Seriously the tesco plans featured some of the worst architecture I have ever seen.

But my point is that it's a better starting point than letting a useless quango take over the site. The council should work harder at trying to bargain with tesco to improve their designs, possibly taking in elements of the piers gough plans. It's the only way anything is going to get done here.

[horokeio]

The problem with turning it into an attractive public park is that it would be much more difficult to build on it when the time eventually comes for the regeneration work to start. It's Tesco's call anyway, and will be until the law is changed. If anyone ever doubted the power of corporations to hold decision making a democracy to ransom, here is a highly eloquent Exhibit A.

[Talisker]

horo, clearing away weeds isn't going to turn the area into an 'attractive public park'. I agree that a proper attempt at landscaping the site would cause problems at a later date if work was ready to start. But seriously, how far are we away from that? Essentially things are further away than they have ever been. The economy isn't great, tesco still own the site and sunderland arc's original masterplan has mysteriously dissapeared. We could be 10 years away from any construction the way things stand. It reminds me of my own refusal to decorate my rented house thinking that I'd be moving shortly and there're wasn't any point, but then staying another two years.

[denm]

This article related to the Vaux problem, -----we all know the Council has to get these things right, ----but they haven't even looked at the application yet, ----this from the Echo, ---



Planners must get Tesco build right, claim council chiefs, ----Published Date:
26 November 2009
By Ross Robertson
Council reporter
Plans to build a giant superstore that will create up to 800 jobs could be delayed for years if planners don't get it right, claim council chiefs.
Supermarket chain Tesco is planning a new development on the rundown Sunderland Retail Park in Roker, and site owner Mountview Securities has applied to Sunderland City Council for outline planning permission.

The application was made last summer ADVERTISEMENTand the council is yet to hold a planning meeting to discuss it.

The council has taken flak for holding up the development which would bring much-needed jobs to the city.

But Keith Lowes, head of planning at the council, said the authority had to be careful or it could end up facing a lengthy public inquiry.

The size of the development – it would be one of the largest supermarkets in the country – means the council's final decision would have to be examined by Government Office North East.

Mr Lowes said planners had been legally advised to ask the council's retail consultant and Mountview Securities for more information about the application to ward-off a time-consuming Government investigation and said: "If the Government Office isn't happy with the council's decision they could call it in and there could be a public inquiry, and you can write two years off for that.

"Our purpose is to try and ensure that when we bring the application to planners (for consideration) everything has been done to minimise the risk of the application being called-in by the Secretary of State."

Mr Lowes said the council must also be able to fend-off challenges from third-parties who are unhappy with the Tesco's plans. "We have received objections to the application and they would be in a position to mount a legal challenge if they weren't happy with the outcome."

Among those objecting is Tesco's rival, Morrisons, which has a store in Seaburn – just three miles away from the proposed Tesco development.

Morrisons' solicitors claim there is no demand for a development of the size proposed and, if approved, it would have a "detrimental impact on the health of the city centre and district centres in the area".

Tory leader attacks delays

Tory leader Lee Martin has slated council officers for what he says is a "go-slow" on supermarket plans for Roker.

He said hundreds of jobs were on the line and it was time for the council to "stop playing games".

"With the recession continuing to bite and youth unemployment at record levels what Sunderland needs is jobs," he said.

"One easy way of getting investment and jobs in is to get the redevelopment of Roker Retail Park moving." He said that in similar Tesco developments in other cities, half the jobs created went to the long-term unemployed.

Coun Martin thinks the council could be using Sunderland Retail Park as a "bargaining chip" to persuade Tesco to release the Vaux site.

Keith Lowes, the council's head of planning, said planners could not make releasing the Vaux site a condition to granting planning permission at Sunderland Retail Park.

[denm]

As Sunderland has now been awarded host City status for 2018, ----then surely this should spur the ARC/ the Council and Developers on with fresh impetus with all the proposed projects, --such as the Vaux and Holmeside Developments amongst others, ---whats peoples thoughts?

[Talisker]

It's not impetus that's needed, it's money. The problem is that tesco can't be trusted to build anything half decent at either the vaux site or the retail park, which leaves us needing alternative investment.

[denm]

Heres a bit more news, ----this from todays Echo, ---


Sky's the limit for city
Sign InRegisterDavid Walker

Published Date:
17 December 2009
By Ross Robertson
Wearside's World Cup bid will help trigger a business boom, says the man charged with breathing new life into the city centre.

David Walker, chief executive of regeneration company Sunderland arc, said Wearside's selection as part of England's 2018 World Cup bid would push its profile sky-high.

Mr Walker said Sunderland was already known to developers and investors elsewhere in the country – including the affluent south – and the 2018 World Cup bid would raise its profile even higher.

"For Sunderland's name to be first out of the hat was a very good thing – it really raises the profile of the city," he said.

"Sunderland was the first name everyone heard. These are the things that are important.

"That resonates with people in the South East who want to invest."

But Mr Walker said Sunderland becoming part of England's World Cup bid was not the only thing that was raising the city's profile.

He said plans for the new Wear bridge were also a major symbol of the city's aspirations, and new award-winning buildings such as the Aquatic Centre and thePlace in Sunniside also made people sit up and take note.

"It shows that the new buildings we have had have been high quality," said Mr Walker.

"When I show developers the artists' impressions for the new Wear bridge, it shows how serious we are about regenerating Sunderland."

Mr Walker was speaking at a meeting of councillors to examine the progress Sunderland arc is making in regenerating the city.

Houghton councillor Kath Rolph said she, like others, was overjoyed at Sunderland's selection to be part of the World Cup bid.

But she said the city deserved better recognition for how far it had come.

[denm]

David Walker ARC's Chief Executive says about the Vaux site, that they are in talks with a Developer interested in working up more Detailed Plans for the site, ------lets hope those talks are fruitful and the outcome positive.

[Talisker]

Having a developer greatly strengthens the anti tesco argument, so this could be good news. Where did this info come from?

[denm]

Originally Posted by Talisker

Having a developer greatly strengthens the anti tesco argument, so this could be good news. Where did this info come from?

It was taken from another article ---where Mr Walker was speaking at a Sunderland City Council Commitee Meeting to update Councilors on the progress at Holmeside, --and he also spoke of the Vaux site.

[gld]

Originally Posted by denm

David Walker ARC's Chief Executive says about the Vaux site, that they are in talks with a Developer interested in working up more Detailed Plans for the site, ------lets hope those talks are fruitful and the outcome positive.

I really hope the Arc and this developer come up with something soon, it is over ten years this site has stood empty, I hope something happens next year.

[kingdom bhoy]

Originally Posted by gld

I really hope the Arc and this developer come up with something soon, it is over ten years this site has stood empty, I hope something happens next year.

Couldn't agree more with you.