Media 2012 Press Releases

New IKEA store secured - 11/4/2012

Savell Bird & Axon (SBA), a part of the WYG Group, is celebrating as West Berkshire Council has granted planning permission for a new IKEA store west of Reading.

SBA provided highways and transport advice related to the 40,000 sqm IKEA store, which will be the 19th store in the UK and the first new store in three years.  The store, at Pincents Lane Retail Park in Calcot, is to be built over two commercial sites comprising a number of retail and leisure units.

The development will consist of a retail warehouse and an adjacent multi-storey car park, which will be linked by a footbridge at an upper level and a signalised pedestrian crossing at ground level. 

Melanie de Wet, Principal Transport Planner at SBA said: “We have worked closely with West Berkshire Council, the Highways Agency and their consultants, Parsons Brinckerhoff, to ensure the most appropriate mitigation package comes forward which will optimise operations along the A4 corridor. 

“Comments from the public and local businesses were taken on board and every effort was made to accommodate proposals and changes that would benefit the local road network and individual operators, where possible. It is great to see that all the hard work has paid off and a positive decision was reached by council members.”

The proposals include improvements to four junctions along the A4 corridor, including M4 junction 12.  The site access junction will be converted from the existing roundabout to a traffic signal controlled junction and minor improvements are proposed at the two junctions east of the site access junction. 

Enhancements to the sustainable transport modes include improvements to the footway and cycleway network in the area and the extension of bus route 26 to the site which will provide two new bus stops.