Sainsbury’s in Essex town centre shuts with plans to transform store …
Sainsbury’s has confirmed an Ilford branch will be closing with submitted plans to convert it into flats and student accommodation. The supermarket on Roden Street, in the town centre, is set to be closed following possible development plans to provide 837 homes and 447 student accommodation rooms.
Plans were submitted in July 2022 by Teleford Homes and Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd. The target date was set for October 31 2022 that year and is currently under assessment after it received an extension date for June 30 2023.
The proposal consists of bulldozing the existing Sainsbury’s building and constructing seven blocks of housing, commercial and public space amenities. These amenities include new transport links and hubs, a provisional Sainsbury’s store, and new areas of public space.
The new Chapel Place scheme is estimated to be over £100m and is scheduled to be completed by September 2028 if the proposal is approved, according to the planning application. Although Sainsbury’s has confirmed the closure, a date has not yet been determined.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “The new Chapel Place scheme represents a best-in-class development opportunity for Ilford. It includes housing that is ‘Build to Rent’, purpose-built Student Accommodation and an Affordable residential offering.
“Plans also includes 6813 sq.m. of green public realm with opportunities for new cycle and pedestrian links to the High Street and public transport hubs, as well as a reprovision of a Sainsbury’s store. The vision for the scheme has placemaking and sustainability at its heart, bringing residents, retail and recreation together in the centre of Ilford.
“A store closure date has not yet been determined and it continues to be fully stocked. We’ll keep our colleagues, customers and the local community updated as our plans progress.”