New plans put forward for smaller Calcot IKEA superstore

The updated plans put the store, proposed for Berkshire Retail Park close to junction 12 of the M4 at Theale, over two levels instead of three, reducing the height by eight metres, and with a footprint of 32,000sqm.
IKEA, famous for its flat-packed home furniture, purchased the 140,000 sq ft site 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 for which was granted for the scheme in 2012.
However, it says it has amended the plans to better suit the evolution of customer shopping habits.
IKEA spokeswoman, Kym Beggs, said: “The store will still offer the full IKEA product range and the same services you can expect in any of our current UK stores.
“We now await feedback from the council on our updated proposals. This feedback will determine when we will be able to start work on site and therefore a planned opening date.
“In the meantime, however, we are undertaking a number of site investigations in readiness for developing our detailed design proposals.”
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