A NEW bid by Sainsbury’s to increase the amount of floor space at its Water Lane store allowed for the sale of ‘comparison goods’ has led to fresh concerns over its potentially adverse impact on Farnham town centre.

Sainsbury’s is currently permitted to sell comparison goods such as clothing, household appliances and electricals in just 15 per cent of its Water Lane store - a condition agreed in its successful 1999 application for a new 12,000 square feet extension.

However, the UK’s third largest supermarket chain has applied to overthrow this limitation to allow up to 40 per cent of the sales and display area of the extended store to be used for the sale or display of such goods.

Waverley Borough Council rejected Sainsbury’s initial application to vary the condition in June after complaining that insufficient information had been submitted to demonstrate the proposal would not result in a “significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre”.

However, Sainsbury’s has returned with a fresh application complete with a 22-page ‘retail impact assessment’ by consultants WYG which argues that the impact on Farnham town centre would “not be significantly adverse”.

According to WYG, the impact of the additional comparison goods area would be felt hardest by other out-of-town superstores, not the town centre, and shops in Farnham may indeed benefit from a reduction in sales of food, drinks and other ‘convenience goods’ at Water Lane.

Farnham Town Council, the Farnham Society and Rowledge architect Mark Westcott were among those to object to Sainsbury’s initial application on the grounds that the proposal would adversely impact on the town centre.

No objections, or letters of support, have yet been submitted in response to the latest application. However, members of the public have until Friday, August 26. to view and comment on Sainsbury’s plans online at www.waverley.gov.uk/planning under reference WA/2016/1396.