Ikea store for Ballymun comes a step closer

Plans for the site of a proposed Ikea superstore in Ballymun will go on public display next week.

The public consultation phase, which will last six weeks, is the first step in the planning process for the massive 28,000sq m outlet, the first of its kind in the State.

Ikea is likely to apply for planning permission for the site early in the new year, pending the outcome of the consultation phase and ratification of the plans by Fingal County Council.

The Swedish furniture giant, which says its outlet will bring around 500 jobs to the area, has indicated to the council that it intends to open the superstore in October 2007.

Fingal's director of planning, David O'Connor, said Ikea has appointed an architect to the project and he understands that the Ballymun store has already been designed. However, the council will not be presented with the full design plans until a planning application is made.

The plans will be presented to the public under a proposed Local Area Plan (LAP) for lands at Balcurris, Ballymun North.

A triangular area of 40 hectares, bounded by the Ballymun Road to the east, the M50 to the north and St Margaret's Road to the south, has been earmarked for development.

Approximately one-third of the entire site will be reserved for an Ikea store and associated parking facilities.

Under the LAP the store is referred to as National Scale Retail, as no specific outlet will be referred to in the council's plans until planning permission is granted. However, Ikea has been in talks with the council and is the most likely candidate for the site.

Planning permission has already been granted to a consortium led by Green Properties for the first phase of a business park on 11 hectares of the 40-hectare site.

Located on the eastern side of the site, this comprises 51,177sq m of office space and 1,711 car-parking spaces.

The remainder of the site has been designated under the plan for "science- and technology-based employment" and "associated and complement uses" likely to include some third-level academic facilities.

Dublin City University is understood to be considering locating research departments on the site.

Some residential development and local retail, leisure and creche facilities may also be developed on the complex.

The traffic implications, identified as a major concern by the National Roads Authority, particularly in relation to access to Dublin Airport, are also set out in the LAP.

The development of the Ikea store could increase traffic volumes on the M50 by 12 per cent at certain peak shopping times. However, the LAP indicates that this will be relieved by the M50 upgrade, the inclusion of new slip roads, the planned realignment and upgrade of the St Margaret's Road and the eventual development of the Swords metro.

The LAP estimates that 1,305 cars will be travelling to the store at the peak midday Saturday time.

The planned Ikea store was made possible through the relaxation of the Retail Planning Guidelines by the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, last January.