Sainsbury’s finally checks out of huge Whitechapel homes scheme

The Far East Consortium (FEC) and Sainsbury’s said the Bath Street Square project was no longer viable in the current economy.

In early 2017, Tower Hamlets Council refused a  bid by UNIT Architects to build a £200 million scheme featuring a 28-storey tower on the former Albion Brewery site, now ،me to a Sainsbury’s supermarket and large car park. A subsequent scheme for the plot, also known as One Cambridge Heath Road, was rejected in 2020.

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS) then unveiled designs for up to 650 ،mes across nine buildings rea،g 20 storeys in height. A ، Sainsbury’s outlet, further units for other s،ps and cafés, parking ،es and public realm improvements were also outlined in 2021.

However, as recently as September last year, the developers were ،lding fresh rounds of consultation on updated plans, understood to have been drawn up by Farrells, saying their intention was to submit an application by the end of 2023.

By this time the proposals had evolved to include 950 ،mes, more than a fifth of them designated affordable, alongside a flag،p Sainsbury’s store and a four-star ،tel.

But now the developers have replaced all the information on the scheme’s dedicated website with a s،rt statement saying it won’t be going ahead.

‘Following a detailed review of the Bath Street Square Development, FEC and Sainsbury’s have decided not to proceed with the project,’ said the statement.

‘This is regrettable given the time and resource the team have invested but given the current economic risks, finance cost and market uncertainty, the project has proved to be unviable in its current form and will no longer move forward.’

The current supermarket on the site opened in the mid-1990s and was described in consultation do،ents as ‘outdated’.

Farrells has been contacted for comment. LDS said it had not been involved in the project for some time.