Date set for decision on IKEA plans
Laura Routledge • Published 28 Jan 2012 08:00
4 Comments
THE LONG awaited decision on plans for a multi million pound IKEA superstore in Calcot will finally be made in April.
The revised application to replace derelict buildings at Pincents Lane Retail Park with the Swedish retailer, famous for its flat-pack furniture, will be discussed by West Berkshire Council at an Eastern Area Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 4.
The £10m development will cover four hectares with the store sitting to the north of Pincents Lane and the 1,287-space car park and areas for buses and coaches on the opposite side. The two areas will be linked by an overhead walkway.
The plans, submitted last February, won the support of Reading Borough Council in June but West Berkshire has the final say and has not been satisfied, amid complaints by hundreds of neighbours about the size of the store and increased traffic on an already congested route.
It is hoped the new proposal will please both the district council and residents.
Lewis Marshall, Ikea's PR manager, said: "Revisions to the proposal include a change of colour to the north and east side of the building to a graduated grey and enhancing the landscaping to include 63 new trees alongside additional planting of native hedge mixes, shrubs and wild flower grass land.
"Having carried out a full assessment of the traffic implications of the scheme together with the West Berkshire Highways Team and the Highways Agency, further revisions to the proposed road improvements have been made.
"Our assessment has demonstrated that IKEA's £5m investment in the proposed traffic improvements will not only accommodate the traffic from the store but will also improve the operation of the existing road network."
Calcot councillor and planning committee member Brian Bedwell said: "There is a lot to be discussed. I can say now that I am neither for nor against the application.
"There is no doubt that an Ikea will please a large number of the population but that is not necessarily the people in Calcot, who will have it on their doorstep. It will also bring a large number of jobs for local people, so there are plusses, but what we need to make sure is that those positives are not swamped by negatives."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 26 Jan 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Lord Jason
Unregistered User
Jan 28, 13:16
Report commentMore jobs for the area and Calcot is hardly a scenic wonder so a win-win situation all round...
Recommend?
Yes 48
No 5
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roedeer
Unregistered User
Feb 6, 10:48
Report commentRE:IKEA Retail store AND 1,400 SPACE MULTI- STOREY Car Park
If anyone lives nearby and will be affected by this (proposed) development e.g Fords Farm Beansheaf Estate (approx 5,500 residents, their only access is Bath Rd) Contact West Berks Council Planning Dept email: planapps@westberks.gov.uk planning application no/. 11/00218/COMIND for the attention of Emma Fuller
WBC will still accept letters from residents up to the day it goes before a planning committe Weds 4th April 2012
IKEA traffic goes where?
Recommend? Yes 4
No 7
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Tom_Ainsworth
Unregistered User
Feb 14, 12:35
Report commentOnce they’re actually up and running, big new developments are very often not the nightmares that local residents expect them to be, and don’t hit house prices either (the real but often unspoken driver for so many such protests).
Considering the positives – local jobs, taxes, environmental benefits of people not driving to more distant Ikeas, retail options for consumers, investment in the transport network, ‘prestige’ associated with the brand attracting more such global companies to the Reading area – this has got to be A Good Thing on balance.
Recommend? Yes 6
No 1
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AlanMacro
Unregistered User
Mar 28, 11:57
Report commentThe IKEA planning application will be decided by West Berkshire Council's Eastern Area Planning Committee on April 4th.
The meeting will be held at THEALE GREEN SCHOOL and will start at 6:30 pm
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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