Arrival of Ikea store in city moves nearer

The Swedish furniture giant and the local authority have agreed the terms under which Ikea will pay for road layout changes around the £60m store, set to be built close to the Meadowhall Retail Park at the site of the former Betafence factory on Lock House Road, Carbrook.

The Section 278 agreement –which permits a developer to carry out road improvements – had to be signed before planning permission could be granted for the highways changes.

Sheffield Council is in talks with the Highways Agency about whether it can act as the overseeing authority for junction 34 of the M1, where some of the road layout changes are planned.

Once that issue is resolved, it is hoped planning permission can be granted, allowing work to begin.

Ikea said last week it hopes to begin preparatory work on the new store this summer.

Under the highways agreement between the council and the retailer, improvements will be made to the junction 34 roundabout, a new entrance to the Meadowhall Retail Park at the Attercliffe Common junction will be created and a new cycle route laid down between the new store and Arena Square.

An access road leading to the new store’s car park will also be created off Sheffield Road.

The store, which is expected to create up to 700 jobs, including roles for 300 construction workers, was given conditional planning permission by councillors in June 2014. The Government then gave the final go-ahead two months later.