The Secretary of State decided not to call-in the building of a new Sainsburys superstore in Wilmer Place, Stoke Newington, last week.

Developers Newmark Property and Hackney Council are pushing through the controversial project, despite ongoing resistance from residents and a petition of over 6,500 signatures against it.

Newmark Property claims that the Sainsbury’s will increase the benefits to the community, however anti-development campaign group Stokey Local say that the survival of small businesses will be threatened.

East London Lines spoke to the owner of Androulla Toumazos Fashion House, which is set to close this month due to rising rents, to find out how the development will effect local businesses.