In the early 1980s J Sainsbury took ownership of the former Aerated Bread Company Camden Town bakery building in the heart of Camden, which had ceased production in 1982, with a view to developing a supermarket on the site.
The site was a roughly triangular site bounded on two sides by busy roads and on the third by the Grand Union Canal.

In April 1985 Sainsbury's obtained outline planning permission for a scheme by Scott Brownrigg and Turner, but this was rejected by Sainsbury's newly-established vetting committee, chaired by the architecture critic Colin Amery, who reported directly to Sainsbury's Chairman Sir John Sainsbury.
Detailed planning permission was granted in May 1986, to designs by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, having been commended by the Royal Fine Art Commission as an "example of bold and enlightened patronage", even though it was opposed by the Regent's Canal Conservation Advisory Group.
Construction began in August 1986, with Wimpey as the main contractor.

Construction was completed in 1988 and the store was opened on 12 December 1988 by the then Sainsbury's Joint Managing Director Joe Barnes.
On opening, it was described by The Guardian newspaper as being "Building of the year".
In the early 1980s J Sainsbury took ownership of the former Aerated Bread Company Camden Town bakery building in the heart of Camden, which had ceased production in 1982, with a view to developing a supermarket on the site. The site was a roughly triangular site bounded on two sides by busy roads and on the third by the Grand Union Canal.
In April 1985 Sainsbury's obtained outline planning permission for a scheme by Scott Brownrigg and Turner, but this was rejected by Sainsbury's newly-established vetting committee, chaired by the architecture critic Colin Amery, who reported directly to Sainsbury's Chairman Sir John Sainsbury. Detailed planning permission was granted in May 1986, to designs by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, having been commended by the Royal Fine Art Commission as an "example of bold and enlightened patronage", even though it was opposed by the Regent's Canal Conservation Advisory Group. Construction began in August 1986, with Wimpey as the main contractor.
Construction was completed in 1988 and the store was opened on 12 December 1988 by the then Sainsbury's Joint Managing Director Joe Barnes. On opening, it was described by The Guardian newspaper as being "Building of the year".
Sainsbury's, Camden