IKEA submits scaled-back plans for its Calcot store

The plans expected to be submitted in the autumn.
IKEA, famous for its flatpack home furniture, purchased 140,000 sq ft of land near junction 12 of the M4, Theale, in 2009, with the intention of building a vast 40,000 sq m store over three floors, a 1,179 space multi-storey car park, cafe, creche facilities and a bus interchange area.
Planning permission was granted for the scheme in 2012. However new plans are expected to propose a downsized store, in the region of 33,000 sq m over two floors.
Project manager for the Calcot store, Roger Cooper, said: “Since receiving planning permission, we‘ve been busy working on detailed plans for the new store.
“In January the existing tenants vacated and we began demolition work to prepare the site for construction, and at the same time began work with the Highways Agency and West Berkshire Council on road improvement designs.
“In our ever changing retail environment we want to provide our customers with a simple, convenient and enjoyable shopping experience. As such, we have reviewed the design and layout for IKEA Calcot and have decided that a slightly smaller store, re-planned with shopping ease in mind, will offer our customers a better in-store experience.
“The updated plans will still offer the full IKEA product range and the same services you can expect in any of our UK stores.
“We are now working with West Berkshire Council on the amendment to our current planning consent, which we hope to submit in the autumn.”
The initial plans faced heavy contestion from local residents, many of whom joined campaigning groups No to Calcot Ikea and Save Calcot Action Group to oppose the development.
One member of the latter, Joan Lawrie, said at the time: “Very many people welcome having an IKEA nearer to them but it’s the local residents who will bear the brunt of a dramatic increase [in traffic], especially at weekends.
“It is the amount of traffic during rush hours to both Reading and the M4 which is the problem and all it will do is convey traffic quicker to a backlog which is not going anywhere.”