Sainsbury’s has launched its newest store this week with the opening of Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local in Tower Hamlets, London. Now open from 7 am to 11 pm seven days a week, the 1,658 sq. ft store has created new jobs for local people and supports regeneration in the neighbourhood, providing a much-needed boost to retail options.
Customers will now have the chance to sample Sainsbury’s latest convenience range, from fresh fruit and veg, healthy snacks and food-to-go to sweet, savoury and frozen staples. They can also choose from a delicious selection of freshly baked bread and pastries daily and pick up Argos, Habitat, and Tu Clothing products ordered online via the in-store Click and Collect service.
Conveniently located on the corner of Wapping Lane and Green Bank, just two minutes walk from Wapping Rail Station, Sainsbury’s new store has opened on the ground floor of a former office building, the upper floors of which have recently been converted into a suite of luxury apartments by Malins Group. The two companies have worked closely together to ensure that, like the flats above it, the new Local has been sensitively designed to stay in keeping with the local area. This included updating some of the external elements initially proposed in response to community feedback.
The colleagues who make up the new store team will play an active role in the local community while participating in Sainsbury’s nationwide charitable programmes and initiatives. For example, through Sainsbury’s partnership with Neighbourly, the new Local will work with local food donation partners to help ensure that any surplus food from the store will go to those who need it most.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said it was a pleasure to welcome Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local to the estate.
“We’ve recognised the opportunity a new convenience store would represent for the local community in Wapping for some time now,” said Dunne.
Dunne continued that Sainsbury’s pulled out all the stops to bring the new store plans to life, making the most of a unique space in a fantastic redevelopment project. Sainsbury’s is happy with the result and confident that customers will be too.
Jamie Buckland, Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local Store Manager, said he felt privileged to join team members to cut the ribbon on the new store this week.
“We were thrilled to see a queue of customers patiently waiting outside before we opened. We know our neighbours have been looking forward to our arrival, and we were pleased to be able to welcome them for the first time today,” said Buckland.
Lauren Atkins, Managing Director of The Malins Group, stated that it was always a privilege to repurpose underutilised spaces and transform them into vibrant new ones. She added that the benefits of permitted development are clear at Green Bank Lofts, where The Malins Group and Sainsbury’s collaborative efforts have enabled a speedy transition from an unused office building to 18 apartments and exciting retail space.
