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Date set for work to start on Ikea expansion

Building work on the first phase of a multi-million pound expansion at the Black Country's flagship Ikea store will start in January, it has been announced.

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Building work on the first phase of a multi-million pound expansion at the Black Country's flagship Ikea store will start in January, it has been announced.

The firm is investing £10 million doubling the size of the customer restaurant, enlarging the lobby area and increasing the size of the shop floor to fit in more stock, creating 23 jobs.

The first phase of the scheme which will see an extension of the restaurant will start at the beginning of next year, with work due to be completed by autumn.

It will also include increasing the size of the play area, lobby and toilets.

A tender process for the work is to start next month for the contract at the store.

Ikea spokeswoman Lois Blenkinsop said: "We will still start construction in January with an aim to have all building works completed by early autumn 2011.

"In November we will start a tender process for contractors to work on the expansion of the Wednesbury store. As part of this process we will be looking at suitable local and national contractors."

Temporary store facilities, including a restaurant, baby changing and toilet facilities, will be made available.

It is hoped this first phase of improvements, which were approved by Walsall Council's planning committee last month, will reduce queueing at peak times for the toilets and restaurant.

The expansion of the restaurant is part of the store's plans to build an 8,200 sq ft extension.

Ikea is located on the Gallagher retail park, off Junction 9 of the M6 at Wednesbury. The area is in line for a revamp and has seen Boots and TK Maxx open recently.

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