Sainsbury’s has angered campaigners by making a fresh bid to open a second shop in Blackstock Road.

The supermarket chain has applied to overturn a ruling about the maximum size of shops that can open in the former Highbury Vale Police Station.

At the moment the conditions are too restrictive for Sainsbury’s to open a viable branch.

Former Islington Council leader Terry Stacy MBE said the move ignored the wishes of 2,500 people who signed a petition against granting permission for the shop in 2014.

“Residents have made clear time and time and time again they do not want a Sainsbury’s at this site,” Lib Dem Mr Stacy told the Gazette.

The police station was sold off during Boris Johnson’s tenure as London mayor.

Conditions about the maximum size of shops were imposed by the town hall shortly afterwards following a separate application to convert the building.

Mr Stacy said opponents were told these conditions would make the site unattractive to a chain such as Sainsbury’s, ensuring independent shops would be protected.

He said his former council colleagues had raised concerns at the time that the conditions were not robust enough and their removal could hurt other shops in the area.

“This shop will be to the detriment of local businesses and wider community,” said Mr Stacy.

A statement from Sainsbury’s said up to 20 jobs would be created by the new shop and claimed new stores often resulted in higher, not lower, footfall for shops nearby.

A spokeswoman said: “Our stores aim to complement, not compete with, local businesses.”

A consultation on neighbours’ ends on December 22.

And a “retail impact assessment” ordered by the council as part of the appeal has been presented to town hall bosses.

Sainsbury’s has already been granted an alcohol licence for the building.