Store applies to open until 11pm
A SUPERMARKET chain has requested permission from the council to keep the doors open to one of its branches for an extra half an hour.
Food store giant Sainsbury’s wants to extend its opening hours at its convenient branch in Sandy Lane, Church Crookham.
The two-month-old ‘Local’ store currently closes at 10.30pm Monday to Sunday, but permission has been sought to change this to 11pm.
London consultant WYG, on behalf of the supermarket chain, said: “At present the permitted hours of operation are shorter than the standard Sainsbury’s trading hours for their convenience format stores across the UK.
“Sainsbury’s customers’ expectation for this format is for the store to trade until 11pm. It suits the retail offer and function of the stores as local everyday convenience shopping facilities.
“Moreover, it is a format of shop that trades successfully across the UK in situations very similar to this: ground floor units with residential properties above.”
Planning permission was granted in November 2011 for a major residential-led development of the former Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Sandy Lane.
Phase one of the scheme included a local centre and Sainsbury’s Supermarkets agreed to occupy the largest retail unit and opened for trade this May.
Condition eight imposed on the planning permission of the development said that all shops should not open before 7am or close after 10.30pm to ‘protect the amenity of adjoining residential properties’.
The supermarket conducted a noise survey in preparation for submitting the planning application to alter its opening hours.
WYG said that the evidence showed that the change in hours would not ‘result in any unacceptable adverse impact on neighbouring amenity’.
A public consultation on the proposal started last Friday and will close on July 27. Residents can submit their views to Hart District Council.
The planning department expects to make a decision on the application by August 28.