WORK has started on a new IKEA store near Chorley and Leyland.

The 160-acre site is the largest single location being delivered through the City Deal and it will provide 80,000 sq ft of industrial space, 26,000 sq ft of office space, 4,500 permanent new jobs, 2,900 jobs during construction and up to 210 homes, with IKEA already committed as an anchor tenant.

As well as bringing new retail and leisure to the area, the development will see major investment into the local highway infrastructure and will provide new green infrastructure and landscaping, new footpath and cycle routes which will link the site to existing amenities, including Cuerden Valley Park.

Karen Hirst, managing director at Maple Grove Developments, said: “There has been really strong interest in the phase one retail site from a wide range of occupiers and we are in discussion with numerous parties.

“We look forward to being able to make more announcements on which other retail occupiers will be coming to the first phase of Lancashire Central in the very near future.”

Ben Scandrett, Group Surveyor at Brookhouse Group said: “This 160-acre site is largest single location being delivered through the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal and is capable of providing up to 4,500 jobs.

"The retail element is just the first phase of the site, funding the infrastructure needed to open up the remainder of the site.It is a strategic employment site for Lancashire, and as such we aim to ensure that we maximise the employment opportunities right across the site.”

Plans for the site were unanimously approved in September 2017 and site preparation works are now underway. Initial work included temporary access work, tree protection and felling work, and a trial borehole for a ground source heat pump and these are now complete.

Work will start shortly on a further phase of temporary access work allowing construction site access from the M65 roundabout and extending some temporary internal access routes within the site.

County Cllr Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, said: "The development of this strategic site will deliver significant economic benefits, including creating over 4,500 new jobs."

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