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Swedish retailer IKEA has announced plans for a new store in the village of Cuerden, near Chorley in Lancashire.
A planning application was submitted last week to include IKEA in a mixed use development entitled Cuerden Strategic Site, by Maple Grove Development Ltd and Lancashire County Council.
Submission of the planning application follows consultation with local residents, businesses, councillors and the local community.
The 35,000sq m branch will provide the full range of IKEA’s home furnishing products, along with room sets, a restaurant, crèche, children’s play area and customer car park. it will generate 350 local jobs, both full and part-time, in a wide range of roles from customer relations to interior design.
The South Yorkshire store will be located on Sheffield Road in Tinsley, a suburb of north-eastern Sheffield. Construction officially kicked off last week (Thursday, February 2).
IKEA UK and Ireland country retail manager Gillian Drakeford and Sheffield store manager Garry Deakin, joined by Sheffield City Council members Cllr Dore, Leader of the Council; Cllr Brammall, Deputy Leader of the Council; an Cllr Fox, Mayoress of Sheffield; plus MP Clive Betts, in leading a ground-breaking ceremony
Speaking at the ceremony, Gillian commented, “This new store emphasises our commitment to UK expansion and investment. Our aim is to make IKEA as accessible to as many people as possible, and we are delighted to be able to bring our home furnishing offer to Sheffield.”
The new store will create 480 jobs: 380 in-store and 100 in the call centre. Roles will include customer relations, sales, interior designers, IT, sustainability and marketing specialists.
Garry added: “This marks an important milestone as we officially kick-start the construction of IKEA Sheffield. I can’t wait for the store to open and look forward to welcoming our new co-workers on board.”
IKEA Sheffield will be the retailer’s most sustainable store to date and will aim to achieve 100% renewable energy.
The store is targeting a BREEAM ‘excellent’ accreditation and will incorporate green technologies such as photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting and linking in with the district heating scheme.
Electric vehicles will be used for home delivery, and IKEA will provide two electric vehicle charging points on site to offer renewably generated power for EV vehicles free of charge.
The aim is to encourage co-workers and visitors to use these sustainable transport options, which will contribute in excess of £400,000 as part of the Section 106 agreement in sustainable travel.
This package includes improvements to the tram stop and cycle ways and improving the efficiency of the bus fleet serving the store. IKEA has also committed to improving local roads and junctions around the store to improve traffic flows.
Cllr Bramall said: “We know many people have been anticipating IKEA’s arrival in Sheffield. That’s why we’ve worked hard with IKEA to make this happen. The new store will redevelop a derelict site and bring jobs and investment to the city, whilst adding to Sheffield’s retail offer. So it’s great news.”
The Sheffield store will be the IKEA’s 20th in the UK. It opens in late Summer.
