Sainbury's still holding on to empty store in Milton Keynes

This week a Citizen investigation showed the supermarket bosses and shopping centre owners are seemingly nowhere near negotiating a solution.

Sainsbury’s has a superstore half a mile away at the Hub. But it is paying around £1m a year in rent and service charges for the unused food centre facility, which still has years to run on its lease.

This month, following the death of tent-dweller James (Jimmy) Owens, there has been public pressure for the company to use the empty store to provide immediate shelter for homeless people.

But a Sainsbury’s spokesman said this was not possible.

He said: “We understand people’s concerns, and have supported a number of homeless charities in the past including Milton Keynes Winter Night initiative.

“Hermes own the site and have placed a number of restrictions on the use of the building. “

The spokesman added: “We do not want to see the site lie empty and have asked them to lift these so we can get it back into use as soon as possible.

Unfortunately they have refused to do so and as a result we have been unable to sublet the building. We are continuing to discuss the matter with them.”

Four years ago the Citizen reported Sainsbury’s was “actively pursuing” ways to move forward. The company says there has never been an interest in the site from rival food retailers.