Support for £10m Ikea expansion

The first phase of a multi million pound expansion of Wednesbury's flagship Ikea store is set to be backed by planners.

Bosses at the homeware shop are set to invest up to £10 million to help boost the facilities for customers.

This will see the size of the customer restaurant doubled, the lobby area enlarged and the shop floor made bigger to fit in more stock, creating up to 40 jobs.

On Thursday planning chiefs at Walsall Council are being asked to back the first phase which would see an extension to the restaurant of the landmark yellow store. If permission is granted it is hoped the extension would be up and running by 2012.

David Elsworthy, head of planning, states: "The manager of the store sets out the need for the improvements to the store stating that customers, at busy times, are saying that there are queues for the toilets, there is nowhere to sit in the restaurant and the walkways are congested."

The report adds: "In order to compete in difficult market times it is more important than ever to provide customers with the right shopping experience."

Store manager Gary Pearce says the plans will cost between £3 and £10 million, depending on which parts of the application get approved.

Mr Pearce said staff were excited about the project, which comes as it celebrates 20 years.