Sainsbury's opens new supermarket in Portsmouth at site of beleaguered student halls - as it prepares to close nearby store

Sainsbury’s threw open its doors at its new Commercial Road premises today as it prepares to axe its nearby flagship store in the same road on Saturday.

The new Sainsbury’s Local store below Stanhope House will be open from 7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday.

Stanhope House – a £30m tower block for university students that was meant to be complete in September 2019 – was plagued by delays and even leaked at the first sign of heavy rain.

Students moved in despite the 19-storey building remaining incomplete, with its ground floor empty.

More than 250 students were placed in alternative accommodation when Stanhope House was not ready at the start of the academic year in September 2019.

Students were forced to live in hotels when the 256-bed while Crosslane Student Developments finished constructing the site.

In December 2019, Prime Student Living was found to have breached a student housing code of conduct following delays in the project.

However, Sainsbury’s was pleased to take the opportunity to open a new store at the central location.

Following the opening, Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s property director, said: ‘We’re committed to ensuring our stores are in the right format and locations to serve the local community.

‘This modern Sainsbury’s Local store will give our customers access to fresh and convenient food, quick and easy meals, pantry essentials and household essentials from early in the morning to late in the evenings, every day of the week.’

James Drury, manager of the new store, said: ‘The team and I are excited to welcome and serve customers in our brand new store, which will give local students and city visitors a convenient and safe place to do their shopping.’

Sainsbury's confirmed in September it would close its flagship Commercial Road branch as part of a 2019 plan to close up to 15 stores by 2021.

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