IT WAS billed as a pioneering supermarket and a watershed for sustainable construction - but plans to close Sainsbury's Greenwich less than 15 years after opening have run into opposition.

Lambeth architects Black have started a petition against the recently announced plans to shut the Bugsby's Way store - once described by The Independent as "the most carefully designed supermarket in the world, ever" - and replace it with an Ikea.

Their online petition reads: "This is not sustainable development and represents an act of vandalism resulting in the destruction of an exemplar building that should simply be reused by another retailer."

Under the plans, Sainsbury's will move to nearby Gallions Way, with Ikea demolishing the existing store.

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury’s said: “ The old Sainsbury's store garnered national interest and praise for its sustainable design. However, after almost 15 years of operation, sustainable technologies have moved on.”

To sign the petition, click here.