Sainsbury’s submits plans for Stoke Newington store

Sarah Ingrams, Reporter Friday, July 27, 2012
9:33 AM

Sainsbury’s arrival in Stoke Newington could be one step closer after the supermarket chain confirmed they had submitted plans to Hackney Council for the proposed store.

Plans for the store in Wilmer Place, 193-201 Stoke Newington High Street, sparked a protest by ‘zombies’ when they were first announced last year.

Now Sainsbury’s has submitted a new proposal for a 33% smaller store but community group Stokey Local still has concerns about its impact.

A spokesperson for developer Newmark Properties confirmed an application for a “mixed use scheme” was submitted on July 13 and is awaiting validation.

“A number of changes have been made to the proposals following feedback from the Council and local community,” he said.

The plans include 68 homes and a smaller store of 16,000 square feet. The Victorian fronts on Stoke Newington High Street, previously earmarked for demolition, will be retained and the development will be “car free”.

“We believe that this is a much improved scheme thanks to all the feedback we have received.”

But Stokey Local spokesman John Page said: “Although the plans are not in the public domain, they have given an indication in the recent consultation exercise that they are still intending to have a very large supermarket and build a housing estate on top of it.

“We have serious concerns about the impact it will have on Church Street and the High Street and environmental impact on Abney Park ceremony.

“They have changed the plans and that’s an indication that they are listening but the original plans were so extreme it’s not a surprise.”

He added that he is concerned the net effect could be a loss of jobs if independent businesses are undermined by Sainsbury’s.

“We don’t think the changes are sufficient to persuade people in the area that this is a viable development,” he said.