Ikea plans small high street shop

Ikea has grand plans for its Hilllingdon site

Swedish home-furnishing chain Ikea has unveiled plans to open a small-scale High Street store.

Ikea confirmed that the new-style shop reflects a change in its expansion tactics after planning permission for a large store in Stockport was refused.

Its expansion plans have hit problems recently amid local opposition to its larger stores.

The proposed site in Hillingdon, north-west London, will contain an Ikea store and 240 one and two-bed flats.

It will also include a public square with facilities for other shops.

Planning battles

In February, the group lost out on the chance to build its first store in Greater Manchester when the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott turned down its plans for a huge out-of-town warehouse style store.

It has faced opposition from local residents and councils in other parts of the country.

Despite the problems, the group says it plans to open 10 new UK stores over the next three years.

Its proposals for the Hillingdon site say that 117 of the 240 flats will be affordable units, which "will help support the Mayor's target for affordable housing".

"The concept will be very different to anything we have built before in the IKEA world," Ikea property manager Scott Cordrey said.

The company will submit its plans to the local council in two weeks time.

It said that its location next to a London Underground station will increase accessibility.