I don't want a major company like SAINSBURY'S opening up there - but looking at the planning application it's difficult to see any obvious grounds for objection. The only thing I can see that looks wrong is the size of the proposed retail space (316 sq. m) and the proposed opening hours (7am - 11pm 7 days a week). My research online tells me that Sunday trading laws restrict opening hours for shops over 280 sq. m. But I find it hard to imagine they would make such a basic mistake.
My concern is for Honor Oak Supermarket, which in the 7 years I've lived here has served me well as a corner shop. They stock a remarkably wide variety of goods to my mind for such a small unit, and it's rare that I need to go elsewhere when topping up. I get most of my food delivered by Ocado except for meat, which I go to Peter James on Ewhurst Road for, ever since I discovered there was an actual traditional butcher there. I can see the appeal to many, but I don't personally want to give my trade to big monopolies like SAINSBURY'S or Tesco. It's an ethical thing for me. I'm lucky I can afford to consider such things. I have to say, it's currently rumour that this would be SAINSBURY'S- as far as I can see there is no information on thelanning application other than that it will be a retail outlet, the size and the number of jobs it will generate.