A NIGHTLIFE expert has revealed plans to divide a city into Parisian-style quarters as part of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.

John Montgomery, managing director of Urban Cultures, and a former advisor to the Irish government, announced the proposals for Sunderland yesterday.

He was among the speakers at a meeting of about 150 prominent business people to provide an update on the city's Fresh Thinking strategy one year after its launch. Covering key development ideas, the strategy will be implemented over the next ten years.

Two years ago, Mr Montgomery was asked to analyse Sunderland's "evening economy".

He is producing a report based on dividing the city into quarters and getting planners, licensing justices and entertainment licensing authorities to work together to maintain the divisions.

The key areas would be Sunniside Quarter, which would be largely residential, a Theatre Quarter, surrounding the Empire Theatre, a Culture Quarter, surrounding the Winter Gardens, and a Nightlife Quarter, between Park Lane and Holmeside.

Mr Montgomery said partnership working would underpin the scheme.

"We would like to see more investment so that there's more choice for a wider range of groups," he said.

"The argument for producing a joint statement for planning, liquor licensing and entertainment licensing is that it will help us manage the evening economy to make it balance with the daytime economy and with residents' needs.

"I think Sunderland is the first place to try to do this."

Also discussed at the meeting were Tesco's plans for the former Vaux site, plans for a leisure complex at the Stadium of Light, a proposed cinema in Lambton Street, and plans for a £4m leisure development at Low Row.

Colin Anderson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said a lot had already been achieved.

"We have made enormous strides in the past year, for example, we are certain of getting the cinema now, west Sunniside has been declared an improvement area, and we have got the Metro. This meeting has taken things forward by people giving us ideas and telling us what they thought was viable," he said.