Sainsbury's at Hornsey shaping up to be a battle royal?

Cash strapped Haringey Council's agreement last month to sell its 1.3 hectare share of the Hornsey Depot site to Sainsbury's is threatening to turn into a bitter struggle.

Residents fear that the 40,000 sq ft Sainsbury's superstore and up to 230 new homes on the former Hornsey Depot site, off High Street, Hornsey, will worsen traffic congestion.

Local groups including Hornsey Information and Planning Exchange (HIPE), New River Village Residents' Association and MORRSH Neighbourhood Watch are expressing their concern.

Some local residents are wondering if the development is motivated by Sainsbury's desire to protect their Harringay store. The thinking being that Sainsbury's don't necessarily want to build on the site, but they don't want anyone else to have it because it will take business from Harringay.

Local traders appear to be lining up alongside the Council, in the belief that the development could boost business along Hornsey High Street by enticing more motorists to stop and shop.

The Council has committed to consulting residents and businesses before any formal planning application is submitted, and study the potential impact on traffic flow.

We should make sure that Harringay residents are included in the consultation given the potential impact on our area through traffic growth. To this end I have today written to our councillors to ensure our involvement.