Ikea has officially commenced construction of its new Greenwich store in south-east London, holding a “breaking ground” ceremony earlier this week.
Once completed in winter 2018, the 344,445sq ft store will be the first full-sized one that the homewares and furniture retailer has built in London in 13 years.
It is expected to cost Ikea £100 million in investment, and will be located in the Millennium Way Retail Park.
The store will create up to 500 new job opportunities, which will include full and part-time roles in customer relations, sales and interior design.
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Ikea said it would also be a “leading sustainable” store with key features to help Londoners live a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
Targeting a BREEAM Excellent accreditation, Ikea Greenwich will incorporate multiple green technologies including photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment to reduce water consumption by 50 per cent. Renewable materials will also be used for construction.
A number of solutions will also be incorporated to help customers live sustainably. These include the Ikea furniture take-back scheme, as well as a dedicated 861sq ft space to help support customers to re-use, recycle and re-imagine products that they already own.
There will also be a 12,916sq ft roof terrace which will be open to the public, as well as a 2583sq ft roof pavilion and biodiversity garden.
Ikea Greenwich store manager Jane Bisset and Ikea UK sustainability manager Hege Saebjornsen were joined by leaders from the Royal Borough of Greenwich in leading the groundbreaking ceremony for the new store on Tuesday.
“As we celebrate Ikea’s 30th anniversary in the UK, we are proud to mark the start of constructing our latest store in Greenwich,” Saebjornsen said.
“[It] will demonstrate our ongoing commitment to people and planet alongside innovation in customer experience, and sets out a bold statement for the next 30 years.
“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Ikea. Not only will Ikea Greenwich be our most sustainable store in the country, we are also very excited that the new store will demonstrate our commitment to circular economy.”
The Greenwich store will be the 22nd Ikea store in the UK once it opens next year.
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