Southend Central Area Action Plan

We write on behalf of our client Sainsbury's Supermarket Limited, in respect of
the Central Area Action Plan (AAP) Preferred Approach consultation document.

In the Borough of Southend-on-Sea, Sainsbury's currently has one store in
Southend Town Centre at London Road and benefit from a resolution to grant
outline planning permission (LPA ref. SOS/07/01111/OUT) for a mixed-use
regeneration, including a replacement supermarket, at Roots Hall football
ground subject to the imminent signing of a Section 106 agreement.
Sainsbury's will retain a town centre presence and will facilitate the
regeneration of its London Road site and as such, Sainsbury's are keen to be
involved in the Council's Local Development Framework process.

Central Area Action Plan: Issues and Options Regulation 25
The Issues and Options Regulation 25 consultation builds on the foundations of
the Pre-Submission Issues and Options Report published in January 2007 and
sets out a vision and Preferred Option for the Central Area of Southend. The
consultation document identifies that Sainsbury's existing town centre store at
London Road is located in Central Quarter 2 (London Road Broadway), whilst
the Roots Hall football ground is located in Central Quarter 10 (Gateway
Neighbourhoods).

Whilst the consultation document identifies that there is some uncertainty over
Sainsbury's finding an alternative site (supporting text in Central Quarter 2),
there is no mention that if they do find an alternative site they will retain a town
centre presence within London Road area. Nor is there any mention of the
redevelopment proposals for Roots Hall football ground in the text for Central
Quarter 10. Given that there is a resolution to grant planning consent for the
redevelopment of Roots Hall football ground, we consider that the Central AAP
should address this.

Given the regeneration potential at the London Road site we would consider it
premature for the Council to potentially prejudice this significant town centre
opportunity by allocating other sites, which are sequentially less preferable, for
town centre uses.

Sainsbury's wishes to work with the Council to improve Southend-on-Sea's
convenience retailing offer.

We write on behalf of our client Sainsbury's Supermarket Limited, in respect of
the Central Area Action Plan (AAP) Preferred Approach consultation document.

In the Borough of Southend-on-Sea, Sainsbury's currently has one store in
Southend Town Centre at London Road and benefit from a resolution to grant
outline planning permission (LPA ref. SOS/07/01111/OUT) for a mixed-use
regeneration, including a replacement supermarket, at Roots Hall football
ground subject to the imminent signing of a Section 106 agreement.
Sainsbury's will retain a town centre presence and will facilitate the
regeneration of its London Road site and as such, Sainsbury's are keen to be
involved in the Council's Local Development Framework process.

Central Area Action Plan: Issues and Options Regulation 25
The Issues and Options Regulation 25 consultation builds on the foundations of
the Pre-Submission Issues and Options Report published in January 2007 and
sets out a vision and Preferred Option for the Central Area of Southend. The
consultation document identifies that Sainsbury's existing town centre store at
London Road is located in Central Quarter 2 (London Road Broadway), whilst
the Roots Hall football ground is located in Central Quarter 10 (Gateway
Neighbourhoods).

Whilst the consultation document identifies that there is some uncertainty over
Sainsbury's finding an alternative site (supporting text in Central Quarter 2),
there is no mention that if they do find an alternative site they will retain a town
centre presence within London Road area. Nor is there any mention of the
redevelopment proposals for Roots Hall football ground in the text for Central
Quarter 10. Given that there is a resolution to grant planning consent for the
redevelopment of Roots Hall football ground, we consider that the Central AAP
should address this.

Given the regeneration potential at the London Road site we would consider it
premature for the Council to potentially prejudice this significant town centre
opportunity by allocating other sites, which are sequentially less preferable, for
town centre uses.

Sainsbury's wishes to work with the Council to improve Southend-on-Sea's
convenience retailing offer.