Changes in store on plans to extend supermarket

FOLLOWING feedback from members of the public, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has changed its proposals for extending its store on Archer Road in Millhouses, Sheffield.

The revised plans have been submitted and are set to be decided by Sheffield Council’s city centre, south and east planning committee next month. Sainsbury’s is now proposing to maintain more of the greenery along Archer Road by scaling back the size of the new “atrium” at the store entrance.

The new plans also involve moving the proposed building line further away from the roadside, altering the ramps and steps from Archer Road to the new entrance to make the store easier to access by cyclists or pedestrians, and putting in new semi-mature trees, greenery and climbing foliage.

Sainsbury’s regional development surveyor Christian Wakelin said: “We have decided, during what has been a long and detailed public consultation process, to further fine-tune our Archer Road store upgrade proposals, reflecting Sainsbury’s continued efforts to produce a scheme that is right for the local community and our customers.

“Significant improvements have been made since our original, pre-application ideas were first displayed to the public in summer 2009.

“These proposals remain focused on improving the shopping experience for our existing customers but we want to do it in a way that is acceptable to our neighbours and the wider community.”

The new plans also involve adding facilities for cyclists, which will include a total of 39 new cycle racks. Fourteen of those will be on the Archer Road level of the store and 25 will be on the lower-ground level, providing parking for 78 bikes in total.