Ikea told it can keep its Wednesbury 'click-and-collect' building despite planning lapse

Flat-pack furniture giant has been told it will be allowed to retain its temporary ‘click-and-collect’ building in the car park of its Black Country store, despite allowing planning permission to run out a year ago.

The Swedish retailer has been granted retrospective planning permission to retain the warehouse at its store at Gallagher Retail Park in Axletree Way, Wednesbury.

Permission was initially given in July 2021 for a single-storey building to be on the site for three years. A further three years’ permission was granted for an extension the following July.

The second term expired in July last year.

Emma Bilton, a planning consultant acting on behalf of Ikea, said the collection point was still in operation due to continued demand.

“It is necessary to regularise the ongoing use of the click-and-collect facility,” she said in a letter to Walsall Council.

“This application is made retrospectively to allow the continuation of the click-and-collect while whilst a more permanent solution is developed.”

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She said the development had created 60 jobs at the site, and securing full planning consent would ensure these jobs were protected.

“There has been no material change in circumstance since the council came to the conclusion that the proposals were acceptable,” she added.

“The click-and-collect will continue to operate successfully and there will be no changes to the external appearance, positioning or function of the buildings. The changes will therefore not have a materially different impact than those accepted with the previous planning permissions.”