Supermarket wars: Now upmarket Waitrose wants to open branch in Stoke Newington

Aspirational: Waitrose says it ‘aspires’ to open a new store in Stoke Newington. This picture shows the opening of a new Waitrose in Oakgrove, Milton Keynes. Photograph: Waitrose/Facebook

Waitrose is eyeing up Stoke Newington as a possible location for a new store.

A spokesperson for the upmarket supermarket chain said: “Although we are not currently looking for sites in Stoke Newington, it is certainly a longer term aspiration for Waitrose to open there.”

The announcement comes just weeks after Hackney Council angered campaigners by giving the go-ahead for a new Sainsbury’s store to open in Stoke Newington.

In the most recent issue of listings magazine Time Out, Waitrose strategy developer and director of convenience Jackie Wharton is quoted as saying: “We’re looking at opening stores in Stoke Newington and Brixton – which are both places that have opportunities for regeneration.”

Jane Holgate from pressure group Stokey Local, which fought a widely publicised battle against the Sainsbury’s plans, said the group currently had no stance on whether a Waitrose store in the area would be a positive move.

But she added that she expected campaigners would come out against any such scheme.

Ms Holgate said: “We haven’t got a view at moment because we have to talk to our members, but I imagine it will be the same as our view on the Sainsbury’s.

“Waitrose is one of the big five supermarkets.

“The reasons people had for being opposed to the Sainsbury’s plans would be the same as the reasons for being opposed a Waitrose – such as the detrimental effect on small businesses and changes to the character of the area.

“People want Stoke Newington to remain as it is with its village feel, so whether it is a Sainsbury’s, a Tesco, a Morrison’s or a Waitrose, I don’t see that it would make much difference.”

Stokey Local is currently working towards fighting for a judicial review that could overturn the council’s Sainsbury’s decision if judges were to find the Town Hall’s decision making process was flawed.

Hackney Council’s planning subcommittee chair Vincent Stops has defended the decision, saying it was taken in line with planning regulations.

The plans for the new Sainsbury’s development in Wilmer Place – a scheme that will also include the creation of new homes – was put forward by developers Newmark Properties, which maintains the store will bring benefits to Stoke Newington.