Swedish furniture retailer IKEA has gained planning consent for a superstore in Southampton.
The council has granted permission for a 280,000 sq ft (26,000 sq m) store at the former Calor Gas site on the Millbrook Trading Estate in Southampton.
IKEA is now awaiting a decision by the secretary of state as to whether the scheme will be called in.
A spokesman for IKEA said: “The application is now with the government of the region who will advise the secretary of state on whether the scheme should go to inquiry.
“We are very pleased the council has given us its backing – but we know from experience that this is potentially just the first hurdle on a very long obstacle race.”
IKEA is currently awaiting news on call-ins in Stockport and Edmonton. It hopes to have decisions on both schemes by the end of the year.
The spokesman added: “If the scheme is not called in we expect to be trading by the end of 2003.”
EGi News 07/08/02
