Ikea has denied reports it is going to seek planning permission for its first store in Ireland, at a new retail park in Banbridge, Co Down in Northern Ireland, just over 20 km from the border with the Republic.
Irish newspapers reported earlier this month that Ikea was planning to open in Northern Ireland, enabling it to beat the Republic's cap on retail warehouses, set at 64,585 sq ft (6,000 sq m). They have since been forced to retract the story. An Ikea spokeswoman said the group had no plans for a store in Banbridge.
Ikea UK property manager Scott Cordrey said: 'We've been keeping a careful eye on the Irish market, but we've held back because the retail cap in the Republic makes it impossible to establish our size of store there'.
Dublin's Department of the Environment and Local Government is reviewing restrictions on store size allowed in the Republic and is due to report soon. Ikea wants to be involved in the review. 'We hope that the outcome will allow us to establish ourselves in the Republic,' said Cordrey.
In Northern Ireland, Cordrey said no active dialogue is taking place between IKEA and any local property developers, but the store group receives information regularly from property developers all over Ireland.
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