A poster by Stokey Local in Stoke Newington (Credit: Hackney Planning Watch)
Campaigners in Stoke Newington have issued a second judicial review application over plans to build a new Sainsbury’s supermarket on the Wilmer Place site.
The application, which campaign group Stokey Local hopes will be heard in May alongside their first review, was submitted on Thursday as a response to the council re-approving developer Newmark Properties’ planning application in December.
Nick Perry, who is Stokey Local’s expert on planning and technical issues, told the Hackney Post that he was hopeful that the judicial reviews would help delay the process until after the council elections, giving new hope that the controversial scheme would be scrapped.
“There are many thousands of people who are part of the campaign, and different people have different reasons. What is common amongst all of us is that none of us want this development in this form,” said Mr Perry.
“This would be a massive intrusion. What’s onsite at present is, admittedly, ugly, but it is low. What would replace it would be taller, would disturb the sense of seclusion in the park, and wouldn’t offer any benefit.”
The original planning application was approved last year, prompting Mr Perry’s first application for judicial review. In response Newmark Properties issued an identical planning application, which approved for the second time in December.
The new Sainsbury’s would be one of 45 supermarkets in the area and there is a Sainsbury’s Local just a few hundred yards down the road. The development would also include over 50 new homes, but Mr. Perry insists that these too cause a problem.
“Only 17% of the homes would be affordable, against the Hackney Council target of 50%. We think there are a couple of points, where, particularly around affordability, we think we’ve got a very strong point.
“The planning system is set up to be pro developers, and it makes it very difficult for locals to have their say. But when something is this controversial, the most controversial development in Stoke Newington for a generation, it demands a higher level of inspection. The council hasn’t done that.”
Newmark Properties refused to comment.
