The grocery store chain will open a unit in the Leyton development later this year, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
A new grocery shop is set to open in Coronation Square, Leyton after being granted permission to sell alcohol.
Chain supermarket Budgens will open its doors later this year after securing a licence from Waltham Forest Council.
Ahead of opening, the company applied to the council’s licensing department seeking permission to sell beers and other beverages between 6am and 11pm on Sundays through Thursdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
It had initially applied to sell drinks until midnight seven days a week, but this caused controversy with a resident living nearby.
They submitted a formal objection to the council’s licensing department, warning the sale of alcohol was “likely to increase the risk of street drinking [and] antisocial behaviour”.
In a letter to the objector, a representative from The Licensing Guys – the consultancy handling Budgens’ application – said that reducing the shop’s hours meant it “would, on balance, only add amenity and employment to the area and bring a very clear and demonstrable benefit to the locality”.
The application was otherwise due to go before the licensing committee on Thursday morning (5th January).
It is a legal requirement for shops and restaurants to have the appropriate licence in order to maintain public safety. Councils often request a range of measures be put in place, such as the Challenge 25 ID scheme, an incident log to be kept, and a CCTV system.
Work on Coronation Square – comprising 750 new homes, a new health hub, indoor and outdoor leisure centres and a public square – began in 2021 and is set for completion this year.
The £190million scheme was approved by councillors in April 2020 and half of the homes are classed as ‘affordable,’ aimed at prospective tenants who cannot afford to buy property at the market rate.
The new grocery store is expected to create six full-time and three part-time jobs, according to the application.
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
