Forum Topic

The Morrisons supermarket in Brentford is going to be demolished

Major plans to demolish the Morrisons supermarket in Brentford and build a new superstore and flats have been officially approved by Hounslow Council despite significant local opposition.Another Hounslow Council decision against public opinion :The council received 18 letters in support of the new development and 315 letters objecting. There were two petitions against it with 368 and 1,495 signatories.https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/morrisons-supermarket-brentford-going-demolished-14666476

Reg Ghosh ● 2648d27 Comments

Sometimes I get really down when I read what happens to people. BOUGHT TWO TICKETS and you are still wrong!!!!!!!

Nicholas Beard ● 2635d

Interesting how people do or do not use local shops.I do not spend one penny piece in Hounslow if I can.  I received a parking ticket the day I came to live here in 2007.  I parked a large vehicle across two parking bays in an almost empty car park at The Wheelhouse and paid for two tickets.    I still got fined.  At appeal against my fine I was told that I should not have crossed the white lines.    When I pointed out that I would have had to cut the vehicle in half as it was so long I was told that is what I should have done, rather than crossing the white lines! Since that day I have taken all of my disposable income to either Richmond or Spelthorne.That said, I do not go to Richmond much, since the closure of Church Street, due to extended travel times and the ease of getting away from here.So, Not only do I not use local shops much but all my disposable income goes out of borough.That parking fine has cost at least £80,000 by my reckoning.

Brian McMillan ● 2635d

I was thinking yesterday, in the last year or so I've been to Morrisons perhaps 6 times, the Sainsburys Local at GWQ perhaps 5 times, and otherwise the only shops or establishments I've been in within Brentford are Evans Cycles (twice, once purely to browse and the other time to collect an online order) and McDonalds (perhaps 5 times).Conversely I shop in Kew village and Kew Retail Park at least every couple of weeks, Ealing maybe once a month, and Chiswick and Richmond multiple times every week.Not that I ever expect Brentford to compete with such places, to me it's always been a place you pass through to get to somewhere else as opposed to a 'destination' in its own right, but it is telling just how little time and money I spend in the town.

Adam Beamish ● 2635d

I too dont like Morrisons, and probably only go in there a couple of times a year, and then vow never to go back.  So shops i use in Brentford - hmmm - the small Asian supermarket nr the market place.  Hmmm- i had to go into NatWest recently and realised that i never use high street banks anymore.  Thats it!!!!!

Emma Renton ● 2635d

Ocado made a gross profit of £45.1m from its relationship with Morrisons last year – helping it to its first ever pre-tax profit.“The successful launch and smooth ramp up of Morrisons.com was particularly encouraging and paves the way for future agreements to commercialise the value of our intellectual property,” said Ocado CEO Tim Steiner.The online retailer is now looking for more partners. “During the period, we started to engage in more detailed discussions with several parties with a view to use Ocado Smart Platform to drive the launch or growth of their online businesses,” said Steiner in his business review.During the period Ocado opened a four new spokes in Ruislip, Enfield, Sheffield and Knowsley to increase its distribution capacity rather than to grow our geographic coverage.

Bernard Allen ● 2636d

Certainly the planning application isn't based on 2 separate supermarkets.  It would be a completely different scheme in planning terms if it was.The problem Raymond with your later questions is that an LPA can't refuse a planning application on the basis of not knowing who the end user is going to be.  I regularly submit applications on behalf of applicants who might have identified a prospective end user and dialogue between those parties is continuing, but because that dialogue is ongoing and for reasons for commercial sensitivity I won't disclose as part of the submission who the expected end user is.  And if, as they often do, Councillors ask me to identify the end user, I politely decline pointing out that it makes no difference to their deliberations and they can only consider the appropriateness of an A1 retail supermarket in this location, regardless of who the end user might be.As for Ocado and Morrisons sharing the same delivery base, that's news to me, although I don't shop at Waitrose...

Adam Beamish ● 2636d

The parking space is on top of the supermarket... plus a 4 storage parking in the opposite side of the high street once Ballymore builds it... Too much car parking for me...

David Fernande ● 2636d

I understand 6 supermarket operators were/are interested in the site. As I understand it ( though I don’t have details) Lidl and M&S were/are proposing a joint store, not two separate ones. No, I don’t know how that works. It is not a split site, unless operators want to split it (which might possibly require new planning permission). There is 25% more space overall than the existing store, including store rooms, loading bays etc. I believe you could fit in the current Morrison’s and 2 or three Sainsbury locals into the space available.

Guy Lambert ● 2636d

I wouldn't ever go there for our weekly shop or get Morrisons deliveries either.Strange that as the Morrisons and ocado vans are loaded from the same warehouse at Ruslip

Bernard Allen ● 2636d

But it is a split site. Is it not? And does not have adequate delivery, warehousing and bailing facilities or cooling plant space for refrigeration plant?  How can a supermarket operate a split site?Is that why no-one is really interested in operating it including Morrisons? Because no-one actually asked a serious supermarket operator what their requirements would be?What does that say about the professionals and decision makers? No one damned well asked the right questions did they?

Raymond Havelock ● 2636d

We'll have to differ about Morrison's. My understanding is that the A1 space will be occupied by two  different metro style outlets, both of which will be bigger than Morrison's if combined but neither of which could be described as a supermarket. Coupled with the fact that there will be no parking on site, it is obvious that they are catering for the casual shopper who might pop in now and again, as you do,rather than someone doing their weekly shop. Small shops = less choice and higher prices.

Keith Iddon ● 2636d

There's just something about the place I don't like, generally speaking I'm not a fan of Morrisons but my own perception is that shopping in the Brentford store isn't a remotely pleasant experience - and whilst I see food shopping as a functional need rather than something to be enjoyed I wouldn't ever go there for our weekly shop or get Morrisons deliveries either.Personal choice I guess, for years I always shopped predominantly at Sainsburys at Manor Circus, then Tesco at Syon Lane, now back to Sainsburys (mainly home delivery) with some occasional on foot top-up shopping at M&S on Kew Retail Park.Then again thinking about it in the last 12 months the only premises I have set foot in within Brentford are Morrisons, McDonalds, Evans Cycles and the Sainsburys Local at GWQ.  I'd never really considered that before, but it does illustrate just how little I visit/use Brentford, and to me it's a sad reflection of how people are drawn elsewhere.  I don't follow the point about the 'metro' outlets though, as Guy has said the approved A1 supermarket is considerably larger than the existing Morrisons, and in addition to that are 5 smaller commercial units.

Adam Beamish ● 2636d

I agree about the bread, Adam but I don't see how your other comments can be justified. All this 'poor' feel stuff does sound a bit snobby as you suggest.Perhaps I am more of a utilitarian than you. The staff are always friendly and polite, as I am to them and the meat and fish particularly good.There is usually a good selection of reasonably priced beer and wine and many things of good value in the place. I will miss it as it is going to be replaced by 2 smaller 'metro' style outlets which will struggle to offer the same choice and value.

Keith Iddon ● 2636d

Morrisons fish is really good (well thats my opinion) especially the salmon they put in a bag and you chose the herbs before they seal the bag and the cooking time is on the bag. Their mussels are superb. When you wander around the store there are good value offers for every taste. Their cereals seem both good in taste and value. Often their fillet steak is really good (no fat). I like going to all supermarkets and I went to huge Morrisons once. Clothes as well. I was in their restaurant and somebody said to me, "Only one thing wrong with this place". I asked what was that. They replied TOO MUCH CHOICE.

Nicholas Beard ● 2636d

In the past I fully agree Adam, prior to and at the beginning of Morrisons era, the place was filthy.  However recently I've been lured in by talk of their excellent meat and fish.  I'm still to try that but have bought some veg, although a bit limited the quality was OK.  They do need a supermarket there though so hope a solution can be found for the people of Brentford.

Jennifer Selig ● 2636d

Whilst I'd agree with Nicholas about the staff, and I'd acknowledge that the place often has good offers, I have always hated the shop (long before it became Morrisons), and despite it being the nearest 'big' supermarket to us, I probably only frequent the shop once a month at most when I happen to be walking past and need a couple of things.Aside from my impression that the quality of Morrison's own brand stuff isn't great (and I think the bread is terrible), I'm inevitably going to sound like a snob but the whole store has a really 'poor' feel to it, the lack of natural light doesn't help, and I jokingly refer to it as a "hell hole".It makes me feel the same way as if I ever step into a high street bookies, which to me serve as the best visual indicator/deterrent to the dangers of gambling. Each to their own, but I certainly won't miss it.

Adam Beamish ● 2636d

Once and for all, and whatever the other issues about this development (which I opposed) let's lay to rest this 'half size store' story.The existing supermarket is 2787 sq m in area.The approved new supermarket is 3506 sq m in area ie more than 25% BIGGER.All laid out clearly in the planning application here: http://planning2.hounslow.gov.uk/NPSPublicDocs/00527872.pdfYour second paragraph doesn't make sense to me 'several overseas marketing people on site' - which site - wandering about Morrisons? Planning permission does not permit any sales within 15 years (for the 'open market rental' units) or 'the life of the development (for the 'discounted market rent' units)

Guy Lambert ● 2636d

The very least LBH could have done rather than cave into the developers and cowtow to the Mayor of London is to have insisted the design of this awful development is redesigned to incorporate a single full size supermarket that a proper full range supermarket operator would be able to utilise.A half size Lidl is far from a Morrisons or  a Sainsbury's and the local ones are as most of us know far more expensive and limited in range.Also heard on the grapevine, in recent days, had several overseas marketing people on site who have been approached to rent the developments to overseas investors so the places will be sub let, Maybe LBH or Councillors can enlighten on this one please?

Raymond Havelock ● 2636d

Personall I always found Morrisons good, polite staff. Products often a little different to other supermarkets. Altogether a good experience to visit. So sad to hear its going.

Nicholas Beard ● 2638d

There is an alternative - Keep what works and make it beautful and enhance what already is there.WE DO NOT NEED MORE HIGH RISE LIVING ACCOMMODATION FOR INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS TO PROFIT FROM.THE WATERMANS ARTS CENTRE DOES NOT REQUIRE DEVELOPING - It was bequeathed to the People of Brentford along with the Watermans Park.DEVELOP ONLY WHAT IS ACTUALLY DEFUNCT! There is plenty of this in Brentford.

Stephen Alexander ● 2638d

It will have to be a large temporary structure have you seen the numbers shopping there recently,when they enlarged the Tesco a number of years ago a very very large extension was in use attached to the side of the osterley store, could we have something along those lines perhaps?

Jean Harrison ● 2643d

There's never a guarantee (after all M&S are closing stores that already opened) but i believe 6 supermarkets put in bids to Essential Living and the site is clearly very popular with the public. The population of Brentford is not going to contract any time soon. There is also a supermarket planned for the Ballymore site and I know they had at least one keen and realistic bidder for that.All in all, no guarantees, but there seems every chance we will have two good sized supermarkets in Brentford.The issue is in the interim where Morrisons may go before a replacement is built. We should be working hard to ensure a temporary supermarket is built, not just shuttle buses.

Guy Lambert ● 2644d

Given the update from M&S today do we have any guarantee that we'll have a viable supermarket in the town at all?"M&S has also scaled back ambitions for its Simply Food chain of stores. It was intending to open 40 stores in the current financial year, but has cut that to 25."http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44197128

Paul Scullion ● 2644d

Sounds like convenient timing. The one ray of hope is that they need to start within 3 years, and looking at the delays for Ballymore, and the collapse in house prices in 2018, I am not sure it will go ahead after all.The CS9 cycle superhighway is supposed to go there, and the council does not seem to have insisted it be set back, so there will be precious little pavement space.

Christopher Gillie ● 2644d

Reading the figures for and against if decision had been made before election would it have changed any local opinions as to voting l wonder

Jean Harrison ● 2647d

According to report in the hounslow informer this was passed off by the planning officer on Friday the day after the local elections, was this just a coincidence or have l misread the article in the paper

Jean Harrison ● 2647d

No doubt Hounslow Council have been given a fat S016,and again the local residents lose out to the greed of the developers and the failure of the council to protect the wishes and hopes of local residents.

Richard Buchanan ● 2648d