Page 21 Building and operating sustainable shops


(BREEAM logo)
We are working towards the BREEAM 'excellent' standard in all our new buildings, which all exceed current building regulations. BREEAM provides assessment methods and tools for our construction professionals, helping them to understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of the developments they design and build.


The Partnership's £50 million investment in the Stratford City retail and leisure development adjacent to the Olympic site in East London will generate about 800 jobs, boost the economy, help to regenerate the area for the local community and provide a lasting legacy long after 2012.

(Picture of a Waitrose development site)


Retail and town centre development
Waitrose prides itself on working closely with the local community to ensure any proposal we put forward for a new or existing shop best meets the needs of an area. We liaise with stakeholders, local retailers and the public to better understand their needs and evaluate the development's potential effect on the surrounding environment.

We do this through a series of open communications, including public exhibitions, newsletters and media releases designed to encourage informed discussion and deliver a carefully considered proposal.

When working on plans for any development, our objective is to provide a shopping experience that will add to the vibrancy of an area and enhance its economic vitality. By offering a wider choice of quality foods and services to complement that of existing retailers, we believe our shops have a positive knock-on effect for the high street, helping to make it a favourite destination for shoppers. We place great value on becoming part of a town's fabric and if a development is given the go-ahead, we welcome the opportunity to contribute towards its long-term prosperity.

"There is a lot of anticipation and excitement in the community about Waitrose arriving and rejuvenating the town. Other supermarkets wanted to develop on the edge of town, but we have seen the detrimental effect that has on established retailers in other places, and we didn't want that."
Mike Best Mayor of Crewkerne