The supermarket is an essential element of the development’s local centre and will serve both the existing local community and the new residents of the North West Cambridge Development. The store will front onto the market square and be in close proximity to other shops and community facilities, including the primary school, nursery and community centre. It will include 2,000 sqm of net retail space and will have sheltered bicycle parking and underground car parking to serve the local centre.
Roger Taylor, Project Director of the North West Cambridge Development, said "The University is committed to providing these important facilities from the outset so that the new local community can thrive. By reaching this agreement with Sainsbury’s we are delivering on that commitment - the store is due to open alongside the arrival of the new residents and will benefit those in the surrounding neighbourhoods.”
Ian Whittaker, Development Executive for Sainsbury’s commented: “The significant investment in housing within this urban extension is an exciting venture and we look forward to serving future customers, providing local jobs and working with the University to deliver a sustainable supermarket.”
Outline planning consent for the supermarket was secured in February 2013 as part of the masterplan for the development. A reserved matters application for the detail of the design by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, and its adjacent buildings was approved in February 2014. Works on infrastructure on the development will begin in 2014 with phased completions from 2016.
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