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Out-Law News 1 min. read

Sainsbury's submits plans for mixed-use development at site of Whitechapel store


Retailer Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited has submitted plans to Tower Hamlets Council for the redevelopment of the site of a Sainsbury's supermarket in east London into a mixed-use scheme with more than 600 homes.

Planning expert Iain Gilbey of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said "the plans are consistent with a recent trend among large supermarkets to rationalise their land holdings and to look for profits outside the retail sector." 

The plans for the site of the company's Whitechapel store at 1 Cambridge Heath Road include the demolition of the existing supermarket building and multi-storey car park and the construction of new buildings containing a 5,574 square metre replacement store and 608 homes. 

The site forms part of the Cambridge Heath Gateway area, earmarked in the Council's 'Whitechapel Vision' supplementary planning document for redevelopment with "a new larger store, residential and community facilities" and considered a suitable location for "a new landmark building". 

The new homes would be located within eight new blocks under the plans, including a tower 33 storeys high. A mix of one- to three-bedroom homes has been proposed; of which 86 would be affordable homes. The scheme also includes flexible space for community, retail or learning uses, basement parking for 282 vehicles and 1,130 bicycles and new public realm linking Cambridge Heath Road with Brady Street. 

Sainsbury's is also working in partnership with housebuilder Barratt Developments on schemes including 440 homes above a store in Fulham and 737 homes above a store next to the future Nine Elms London Underground Station.

Editor's note 24/04/2015: The headline and first paragraph of this story were changed because Sainsbury's pointed out that the store in question is not a 'former' store but is still open. We are happy to correct errors when they occur.

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