IKEA plans: Business community responds

There is hope the Swedish furniture chain, which this morning announced it would submit a planning application to build a store at New Monks Farm, will attract more people to the area.

Tina Tilley, chief executive of Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce, which was given a presentation of the plans earlier this week, said that IKEA was keen to work with the rest of the business community.

“IKEA has a very strong community sense and they want to engage, rather than alienate,” she said.

She said she had discussed putting up a display in the store with information about things to do nearby, to encourage visitors to stay in the area – an idea IKEA was open to.

This could highlight nearby restaurants and more shopping opportunities in Shoreham and in Lancing, she said.

“We have to work hard to make sure we make the most of the opportunity,” she said.

The news may have worried some local businesses, she said, which was a ‘normal reaction.’

She confirmed she was intending to set up a meeting with a working group of local businesses to listen and work with the company.

“I’m hoping all local businesses will engage as much as possible,” she said. “It’s a couple of years away.

“There is time to do things well.”

She added that there were ‘a lot of jobs to come with the development.’

As well as 430 jobs opening at IKEA, the New Monks Farm development is expected to create 330 construction jobs.

But she stressed concerns over traffic and said it was ‘essential’ that Highways England and IKEA ‘work in harmony together’ over changes to the A27.

Councillor Brian Boggis, cabinet member for regeneration at Adur District Council, said he supported IKEA’s application, which he called a ‘significant investment from a major international retailer with a first class reputation.’

“There are lots of things that we need to resolve,” he said. “But we welcome a large company taking an interest in the district.

“It puts us on the map.”