Brewery site plan approval

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), March 30, 2007

Plans to transform a former brewery site and create 3,000 jobs are a huge step closer.

Sunderland's former Vaux Brewery has been the centre of a dispute between regeneration firm Sunderland Arc and Tesco, the site owner.

Both have regeneration plans for the area and the Government has now approved Sunderland Arc's proposals to build offices and hotels there. Tesco is hoping to reach a compromise with the company over the site.

Arc's plans were approved by Communities Secretary, Ruth Kelly. Plans include a pounds 280m development including offices, two hotels, houses and shops. Tesco wants to build a store, hotel and apartments at a cost of pounds 150m. Work is still dependent on the outcome of a second inquiry into Sunderland Council's Unitary Development Plan.