Ikea’s Warrington extension approved

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has been granted planning for an 86,112 sq ft extension to its Warrington store, including a 1,000-space decked car park.

The extension to the store on Europa Boulevard next to the M62, was determined by Warrington council three months after submission of the planning application.

Once complete it will allow storage of stock on site, rather than at a remote warehouse currently located on a separate site.

Paul Jacobs, real estate manager for Ikea, said: "This is an important decision for the Warrington store, allowing us to improve the service we offer customers through more stock on site and better availability for pick up close to the point of sale.

"It will also create additional employment opportunities and ease congestion in the store during the peak trading periods."

Andy Astin, associate at Indigo Planning, which advised Ikea, said: "This extension will allow IKEA to operate more efficiently, increasing the warehouse and stock levels at the store in order to ensure that all goods are available for immediate pick-up by customers at the store without the need for customers to visit the remote storage facility."