Ikea plan faces public inquiry

The Ikea store could create about 600 new jobs for the area

Plans to bring an Ikea superstore and hundreds of new jobs to Northampton are facing a public inquiry.

The furniture company applied to build a 30,500-square-metre store on the edge of the town at Grange Park in September 2002.

But the scheme, which would create about 600 jobs, will now be examined at a public inquiry after Ikea appealed against non-determination of the plan by South Northamptonshire Council.

A final decision on the development will rest with the secretary of state for the environment, transport and the regions, deputy prime minister John Prescott.

No date has yet been set for the inquiry, but Ikea is facing opposition from nearby residents and local councils.

Would have refused scheme

They fear the store will generate an unacceptable level of traffic and hit trade in nearby town centres.

A spokeswoman for South Northamptonshire Council said it had been waiting for further information from Northamptonshire County Council about potential traffic levels before considering the scheme.

She added that even if the council had been given all the information it needed, councillors would have refused the application "on the grounds of visual impact, retail impact and flood risk".

The plans will also face opposition from Northampton Borough Council.

In a statement, the borough council said it would meet on Wednesday to finalise its objections.

It said these would include the affect on the "vitality of the town" and the high flow of traffic to and from the store.