New Sainsbury's in Bonnyrigg planned as housing development set to expand by 1,000 homes

A new Sainsbury’s store on the outskirts of Bonnyrigg would give thousands of residents the chance to shop locally, property developers have argued.

Developers bidding to build the new store said it would be located within a 20 minute walking distance for around 7,000 people, and a four-mile bike ride for around 50,000 locals.

Plans to build a Sainsbury’s Local at Hopefield, on the south of the town, have been lodged with Midlothian Council by CBGR Ltd.

The developer says it has a contract with Sainbury’s to bring a local store to the site, which was used as a showroom for the Hopefield housing development.

It added that people currently living in that part of the town are not currently well served by local facilities, with demand set to increase as a further 1,000 houses are planned for the area.

Applying for planning permission for the retail store and a second commercial unit on the site, agents said: “This application seeks planning permission in principle for a local foodstore (to be operated by Sainsbury’s) and an adjoining commercial unit (occupier to be identified), to serve the local shopping and service needs of residents living on the southern side of Bonnyrigg.

“The application site has a large walk-in catchment area, which is currently not well served by local shopping facilities.

“The proposals will therefore provide a valuable local service, as well as discouraging unsustainable and unnecessary car trips.

“The proposals are therefore supported by policies which encourage sustainable development and the desire to achieve ’20-minute neighbourhoods’.”

Agents estimated that the most recent local populations showed around 7,000 people living within a mile of the store, with 49,541 living within four miles or a ten-minute bicycle ride.

They added: “These estimates are likely to be a significant under-estimate of the current and future population given recent building and the recent grant of planning permission for 1,000 new homes at Hopefield Phase 2.”

A second commercial unit proposed to be built next door to the new supermarket has not had a use identified however developers said it could be a hot food takeaway, hairdressers or other service identified as needed by the local community.

The plans are available to view on Midlothian Council’s planning portal.