Perhaps somebody could speak to some of the local businesses scheduled for closure to see if there is any truth or whether it is just wishful thinking on behalf of the landlord. It is quite likely that some of the newsagents and mini supermarkets will need to diversify, but there is no need for them all to close because of Sainsburys. Costcutter survives in Sydenham opposite Tesco, and there is still a newsagent four shops down from Forest Hill Sainsburys (even if others in Dartmouth Road have closed in the last 20 years).

Without the 'due to close' businesses there are only two closed businesses on the parade - Whitewood and the pet shop. This application would leave only a single empty unit on the parade, which is well below the national average.

However, I don't think there is much protection on this parade against the change of use from A1 to A2.