Sainsbury's to Build Temporary Store During Development

Further details of what is being planned yet to be revealed

Sainsbury's and its development partner are reluctant to give too much detail on its future at the moment

February 15, 2026

Shoppers at Sainsbury’s in Chiswick were given their first glimpse of long-awaited redevelopment proposals on Thursday (12 February), as representatives from Sainsbury’s and St James – part of the Berkeley Group – held an initial drop-in session inside the store. The plans, branded “Chiswick Gardens”, would see the supermarket rebuilt, a temporary store installed on site, and hundreds of new flats constructed above and around the new retail space.

But while the event marked the most concrete public engagement on the scheme to date, residents hoping for detailed answers left with more questions than clarity.

Representatives acknowledged that a temporary supermarket will be required before any demolition or construction can begin. Based on the footprint shown in early diagrams, they confirmed the temporary store would be around half the size of the existing Sainsbury’s.

It would be located at the western end of the current car park, close to the railway line and the former recycling area. The team said it was “reasonable to assume” the temporary store would operate for between 12 and 18 months, though they stressed that timescales remain fluid.

The developers reiterated that Sainsbury’s would remain open throughout the redevelopment, with all staff either retained or redeployed.

The new permanent store would be around 10% larger (excluding checkouts) with wider aisles, improved layouts, better signage and a more “market-style” presentation of fresh produce. Car parking would move beneath the store, providing covered access.

The developers say fewer parking spaces are needed because shopping habits have shifted, with more customers walking, cycling or ordering online. When asked at the drop-in session exactly how much parking would be reduced by and whether it would remain free, the representatives said they were unable to give a number but they recognised the importance of parking to many customers.

A map from presentation materials show the site of the temporary store marked with an asterix and the footprint of the development marked by a black dotted border

While the team declined to give specifics on height or massing and no visualisations of the overall scheme have been provided, they did concede that the residential buildings above the new supermarket would “probably be in the teens” in terms of storeys. No visualisations or massing diagrams were available at the event. A map did show the footprint of the development site which covers the whole of the existing store and stretches to the northern end of the car park.

The scheme is expected to deliver at least 300 flats, in line with Hounslow’s draft Local Plan, which identifies the 3.2-acre site as one of the borough’s major redevelopment opportunities.

It was confirmed that no planning application will be submitted before the May council elections. A submission in late spring or early summer is considered likely, though representatives emphasised that the timeline is “very unclear” at this stage.

The temporary store would be at the western end of the site across the tracks from Chiswick Park station

The Sainsbury’s site has been the subject of redevelopment discussions for more than 20 years. Previous attempts stalled due to concerns about height, traffic, viability and the complexity of integrating the supermarket with new housing.

The current partnership between Sainsbury’s and St James is the most advanced proposal yet. The site is formally designated as Site Allocation 107 in Hounslow’s emerging Local Plan, requiring a new supermarket of at least 5,300 sqm, a minimum of 300 housing units, improved public spaces and pedestrian routes and reduced surface parking.

The developers have already challenged aspects of the Local Plan, arguing that affordable housing requirements and viability assumptions need to be applied more flexibly.

With developers hinting at buildings “in the teens”, many fear towers significantly taller than surrounding streets, including the low-rise homes of Bedford Park. The temporary store, reduced parking, and multi-year construction programme raise concerns about congestion on Acton Lane, Essex Place and the High Road. Residents worry that a large, high-density development could overshadow nearby conservation areas and alter the feel of central Chiswick.

If delivered, Chiswick Gardens would be one of the largest developments in the area for a generation, comparable in scale only to Chiswick Business Park. The developers say the project will create a modern, sustainable supermarket, new homes, improved streets and new public spaces.

Cllr Joanna Biddolph said after visting the drop-in session, "Sainsbury’s is the freeholder of the site and it seems it is determined to build now. Its work at other sites show it is on a development spree. From Chiswick residents’ perspectives, it is imperative to say what is unacceptable to try to make Sainsbury’s proposals work not just for the supermarket but also for local residents and businesses, especially the independents that make it attractive to residents and as a destination. "

Residents, meanwhile, are waiting for clearer information – and for the first full set of plans – before forming their views. You can visit chiswickgardens.co.uk to see what information has been released so far, give comments and sign up for updates.