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New Inverurie Sainsbury’s could cause car park chaos with ‘five times the number of shoppers’

Town centre expert Derek Ritchie is concerned over the pressure the supermarket giant will bring to the retail park.

The Sainsbury's would open up in the Homebase unit
The Sainsbury's would open up in the Homebase unit. Image: Isaac Buchan/DC Thomson

A new Sainsbury’s supermarket at Inverurie Retail Park could cause car park chaos, one town centre expert has warned.

The chain wants to take over the Homebase unit at the complex just off Oldmeldrum Road.

The town’s Business Improvement District (Bid) manager, Derek Ritchie, fears that will result in a major increase in the number of shoppers flocking to the site.

Sainsbury’s announced its plans for the spot in August, and bosses are seeking permission to bypass the usual planning rules associated with such a change.

Meanwhile, town centre traders have offered a mixed reaction to the arrival.

Sainsbury's are expected to bring hundreds of customers to the already busy retail park. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson
Sainsbury’s are expected to bring hundreds of customers to the already busy retail park. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson

‘The pressure on that car park is going to be huge’

Mr Ritchie recently told The Press and Journal that Inverurie town centre has been booming, with the right mix of independent businesses and national chains.

Derek fears the car park won't be able to cope with the new influx of shoppers. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson.
Derek fears the car park won’t be able to cope with the new influx of shoppers. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson.

The 59-year-old told us how he fears the Sainsbury’s could impact on the area, joining a retail park that already has a Lidl right next door – along with a Currys, Home Bargains and Iceland.

He said: “My concern about the retail park with Sainsbury’s coming here is the extra customers they’re going to bring to that car park, and the pressure it will have on that.

“There are 350 parking spaces, and that’s supposed to do nine big national stores.

“You can almost guarantee that Sainsbury’s will bring at least five times the number of customers that Homebase does at the moment.”

Sainsbury's are looking to take over the former Homebase unit. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson
Sainsbury’s are looking to take over the former Homebase unit. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson

Mr Ritchie added: “The pressure on that car park is going to be huge, and I can’t see any room for expansion.”

What do town centre traders think?

Shona Singer, of town centre stalwart Strachans, is looking forward to the new Inverurie Sainsbury’s opening – despite sharing concerns about the retail park’s capacity.

Shona is upbeat about the new Sainsbury's. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson
Shona is upbeat about the new Sainsbury’s. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson

She said: “I think Sainsbury’s is a good thing, it’s another name that people know.

“The retail park is already very busy, though, so there is a feeling that people might avoid it.

“That might benefit the town centre, which wouldn’t be a bad thing for us.”

The owner of the William Bruce shoe shop, Steven Bruce, had hoped for a “more retail kind of shop” taking over the former Homebase.

Steven had hoped for a more "retail" kind of store to take over Homebase. Image: Isaac Buchan/DC Thomson
Steven had hoped for a more “retail” kind of store to take over Homebase. Image: Isaac Buchan/DC Thomson

Steven added: “We’ve already got Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl.

“But the main thing is that it won’t be empty.”


Do you think the new Sainsbury’s is a good thing for Inverurie? Let us know in our comments section below


Inverurie Sainsbury’s still to overcome planning wrangle

However, work on the new store is yet to begin.

Sainsbury's still have to overcome a few planning hurdles before they can open up in Inverurie. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson
Sainsbury’s still have to overcome a few planning hurdles before they can open up in Inverurie. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson

The new Inverurie Sainsbury’s aims to open in the Homebase, which usually means that the supermarket needs to ask the council for permission to change the use of the building.

But supermarket bosses argue that the unit at the Inverurie Retail Park already has “an unrestricted retail permission”.

Sainsbury’s agents, Alder King Planning Consultants, said: “It is clear from the above that when the decision was granted it was the council’s intent for the unit to be available for any retail use, given its important location within the centre of Inverurie.”

Sainsbury's will also bring Argos to the retail park, Image: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson
Sainsbury’s will also bring Argos to the retail park, Image: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson

So they are instead only seeking “reassurance” from the local authority that it can move in without the need for any paperwork, which would also mean people can not object to the change.

Sainsbury’s was approached for comment.


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