The Licensing Sub-Committee of Hillingdon Council met on Monday 12 January 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Tesco Express at 34 Station Road, West Drayton. The committee granted the application, despite objections from a local resident.

Application for a Premises Licence: Tesco Express, 34 Station Road, West Drayton UB7 7BZ

The committee considered an application from Tesco Stores Limited for a new premises licence for Tesco Express at 34 Station Road, West Drayton UB7 7BZ. The application sought authorisation for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises between 06:00 and 00:00, Monday to Sunday, and for late-night refreshment between 23:00 and 00:00, Monday to Sunday.

The application received a petition with 21 valid signatures from local residents, led by Ms Shabnam Asgar, who is also the current licence holder and Designated Premises Supervisor of the West Drayton Convenience Store at 18A Station Road. No representations were received from any of the Responsible Authorities, including the police or environmental health.

The objections raised by Ms Asgar and other residents focused on concerns about increased street drinking, potential for trouble and anti-social behaviour, the existing number of off-licences in the vicinity, and the impact on local independent businesses. They also raised concerns about parking, congestion, road safety, noise pollution, and inadequate notification of the application.

Tesco's representatives, including lawyer Jeremy Bank and Licensing Manager Hardish Purewal, presented their case, highlighting the company's robust policies and procedures for responsible alcohol sales. They detailed their training programmes for staff, including a Think 25 policy, digital CCTV systems, and a 24/7 support hub. Tesco stated that they conduct regular risk assessments and employ security measures where necessary. They emphasised that their smallest store format, Tesco Express, is designed for local residents and top-up shopping, with alcohol sales forming a small percentage of overall store sales. Tesco also noted that issues such as parking and general traffic congestion fall under planning regulations, not licensing.

The Sub-Committee deliberated on the evidence presented. They noted the absence of objections from Responsible Authorities, which they considered significant. While acknowledging the concerns raised by Ms Asgar, the committee concluded that many of these were speculative and not directly related to the licensing objectives. Matters such as commercial competition, market demand, and general business impact were deemed outside the scope of the Licensing Act 2003. The Sub-Committee was satisfied that Tesco's proposed management measures adequately promoted the licensing objectives.

Ultimately, the Sub-Committee resolved to GRANT the application for the new premises licence as applied for. They stated that the licence could be reviewed if conditions were not adhered to or if the premises were managed in a way that undermined the licensing objectives.