Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is seeking a judicial review of a planned £100m rival scheme in west London.
Developer Citygrove is poised to start work on transforming the vacant Arla Foods site in South Ruislip, Middlesex, into a 142,000 sq ft leisure scheme but may be forced to down tools because of the impending legal action.
Citygrove was given consent last month to develop the project, anchored by a 70,000 sq ft Asda supermarket and 11-screen Cineworld, alongside five restaurants and 132 homes.
However, Sainsbury’s is now seeking a judicial review claiming that Hillingdon council “did not properly address the issue relating to this application”.
The supermarket refused to disclose the specifics of its concerns.
It had planned to expand a nearby store from 67,500 sq ft to 131,850 sq ft but put the plans on hold when it emerged Asda was to become the anchor for Citygrove’s project in October 2014.
Toby Baines, chairman of Citygrove, said: “This could cause both severe delays and additional costs.
“We will 100% stick with the development plans. Whatever it takes with legal proceedings, we will be building this project.”
The DLA Architecture-designed scheme is almost entirely prelet, with a rent roll of £3.5m pa. Bellway Homes has acquired the residential element.
