Businesses at Crystal Peaks shopping centre in Sheffield have opposed plans for a new Asda supermarket to be built near the area. Sheffield City Council granted permission for the commercial property development only last week, which angered local businesses and market traders of the shopping centre.
Hermes, who own Crystal Peaks shopping centre predicted that if the commercial property plans for the Asda supermarket go ahead, it could hit the shopping centre’s businesses by up to 21 per cent. With Asda not only offering food, but also clothes, household goods and electrical items, consumers can get what they need all from under one roof. So why would customers go to independent shops that sell just a single item, when they can get the vast majority of what they need along with the ‘big food shop’ at Asda?
Beverley Kipling, The Director of Cut Hairdressers and Nail Salon, in the shopping centre expressed her concern about the development, “If this Asda gets built, so many of our businesses could have to close down – I don’t think we would be here after two years. For small businesses, it is hard work every day as it is.” Another business from the shopping centre, Peaks Fisheries run by Michael Hanley agreed with Beverley, “It’s going to vastly reduce the amount of people that come into Crystal Peaks. A survey said business would be reduced by 25 per cent in three years.”
A Sainsbury’s supermarket is already present at the shopping centre and has been for many years, but council’s aren’t worried about the impact that bringing a new Adsa to the area will have on that store, “This will result in Sainsbury’s trading below the current average level for its stores. However Crystal Peaks is a healthy centre and it is considered on balance the impact would not be sufficient to seriously impact the centre as a whole.”
Previous Post
Counting the Cost of the Riots on Commercial Property
