Date set for hearing on Ikea store plans
Ikea’s plans to open up shop just off the M50 in north Dublin are to be put to the test at an oral hearing next month.
An Bord Pleanala confirmed today it would allow objectors including the National Roads Authority to put their case at a meeting on March 20.
In October, Fingal County Council granted planning permission, with more than two dozen conditions, for the Swedish furniture giant to open the massive outlet in Ballymun.
If it gets the go ahead the investment in the local area, one in much need of regeneration, would be worth €150m and create 500 jobs.
But it has been contested on the grounds that it would compound the problems already faced by motorists on the gridlocked M50.
The NRA was one of seven parties to appeal against the initial decision to grant planning permission stating there were serious concerns about the knock-on effect the store would have on the M50.
The body believes the guaranteed high number of shoppers trying to get to the outlet will lead to tailbacks and traffic jams backing on to the motorway.
Treasury Holdings, which is redeveloping the old Ballymun shopping centre, said Ikea could have a significant negative impact on the road network.
Tesco Ireland also made a submission in relation to traffic concerns.
The County Council attached around 30 conditions to its approval of the Ballymun development, which Ikea said it was confident it can meet.
One of the conditions set out is that the M50 upgrade be completed, or at least works to the Ballymun Interchange and surrounding roads, before Ikea opens.
With that the earliest likely date any Ballymun outlet could now open is December 2008 or early 2009.
The store, set on a 12.7 hectare site in the Ballymun Regeneration Zone, will carry almost 10,000 products with a unique layout allowing customers to view over 50 fully furnished room and home layouts.
While all Ikea stores around the world have a sustainable ethos, Ikea has said the Dublin outlet will go one step further with heating and cooling systems running on 45% renewable sources.
The oral hearing will take place on March 20 at 2pm in the CG Hotel, (formerly the Great Southern) at Dublin Airport.
Plans for an IKEA outlet on the outskirts of Belfast were given the go-ahead late last year.
The store will be built on a 14.5-acre site just past George Best Belfast City Airport and will be linked by dual-carriageway to both of the North’s motorways.
IKEA bosses hope to have it open by November.
