Sainsbury's clearly don't see this as an issue.

For a high street to be successful, it needs one or two anchor tenants. Its the same principle that shopping malls use. Get a John Lewis, Marks & Spencer's in, and the rest follow.

Declining the application on the grounds of increased competition to the other shops on the parade would be the worst decision since Abraham Lincoln said, "I'm sick of kicking around the house all day, let's go take in a show."