One of the biggest consultation exercises ever undertaken in Sunderland has started in earnest.

About 60,000 homes in the city have received questionnaires from Tesco about what they'd like to see on the former Vaux Brewery site.

Tesco's �50m scheme for a superstore, car parking, offices and housing has attracted widespread criticism for under-selling a prime location.

John Dixon-Dawson of Sunderland University's business school, said imaginative use of the site is essential.

'City heart'

He said: "There has got to be a mix of use, and a site that is commercially and economically aware.

"The discussion about call centres, and office space, is relevant to part of the mix for the town, but we have got to remember it is a key retail site.

"It has got to sustain the heart of Sunderland as a city centre."

The scheme announced by Tesco has been cricitised by Sunderland Area Regeneration Company, which said the proposed supermarket looked like a giant shed.

'Big consultation'

Demolition work has started on the site and Tesco has said the supermarket, which will be on stilts to provide parking underneath, would create 600 jobs.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We are planning a big consultation because of the emotion that surrounds the site and its place in Sunderland's history."

The Vaux brewery was founded in 1837 and became famous for such tipples as its Highly Nourishing Stout and Indian Pale Ale.

It was closed in 1999 after being bought by a hotel management group.