The glossy proposal leaflet gives the impression that the council and the supermarket are working to improve our town centre , but it makes no mention of the existing lease. The council rents out the existing site to Sainsburys , originally it was Safeways who got the 175 year lease in 1983 , and then Sainsburys took it on in the 90's.
That lease is under negotiation at present - I would be suprised if the rentalvalue can be continued or increased , the towncentre Sainsburys is (in my opinion) the least attractive site of Eastleigh's 3 supermarkets. Asda is huge and well attended , Tescos has a prime position in the precinct for the quick shop. Sainsburys is zipped up with a bus station, looking miserable, poorley lit - it is not , I imagine , making any money..... I also imagine if Sainsburys quit the council would panic - Have you seen the new store in Portswood >
Of course town centres are dying and supermarkets are largely to blame. A large new development can add footfall to the small retailers - but it can remove it also. Certainly the 18 months of firstly demolition , then construction may well kill the patient - with the loss of a large car park I presume market street will suffer further , are people in Eastleigh really lacking supermarkets or is the council trying to monetize a little slice of the park.
