Sainsbury SavaCentre

Keeping an eye on the re-development proposals

You may have noticed that SavaCentre name has been removed from the Bell Green site leaving the hypermarket trading simply as Sainsbury's. The inside has also been refurbished with dark blue walls making the hangar look a little more smaller. Jeff Banks has almost gone and the discreet CCTV cameras have been replaced with much larger, more obvious to complement the security guards. Looks like they want to make sure we know they don't trust us!

The old SavaCentre idea was not a success. Indeed Sainsbury's as a whole is fast losing ground to the competition - particulary Tesco. On its own these changes are unlikely to make the Bell Green supermarket successful. However, Sainsbury only occupies a part of the former British Gas site. There was always an intention to develop the site into a larger retail centre.

Sainsbury lodged a planning application with Lewisham Council in 2002 for two large non-food retail units with potential for a smaller A3 unit (takeaway or restaurant) totalling nearly 3,000 sq m (30,000 sq ft). The new development would be situated at the south side of the site (junction of Bell Green & Southend Lane).

Your council approved the proposal in June 2002 despite the fervent opposition of Sydenham Traders. The original SavaCentre development had decimated local shops around Bell Green. The problem became worse when SavaCentre rationalised the supermarket leading to the closure of most of the small retail units within store (including the Post Office). This left local residents with fewer local amenities.

These problems are not unique to Sydenham and in August 2002 the government called the proposal in for further review with consideration as to whether it conformed with government policy on redevelopment on brownfield sites (the old gas works).

Sainsbury Savacentre address & contact details can be found <here>

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