IKEA to open Brighton store as Ingka Centres purchases Churchill Square shopping centre
IKEA owner Ingka Centres has acquired the freehold for Brighton’s main shopping centre, Churchill Square.
Once the purchase is complete, IKEA will be opening a new city store in a former Debenhams unit on the site.
The move marks the latest phase of the retailer’s ongoing omnichannel transformation which, alongside new stores, is supported by investments in new services, the development of existing stores and new fulfilment and delivery capabilities.
The shop will have around 6,000 products on display with 3,000 available for immediate purchase. In-store planning services for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms will also be available.
Peter Jelkeby, country retail manager and chief sustainability officer at IKEA UK & Ireland said: “We’re delighted to continue expanding and investing throughout the UK to make it easier and more sustainable for people to shop at IKEA.
“Sussex has long been an area of interest to us, and we really look forward to bringing IKEA closer to where our customers live, work and socialise and becoming a part of this vibrant community.”
Churchill Square’s retail tenants include the likes of Inditex, Apple, Next, H&M, Urban Outfitters and Levi’s
Ingka Centres intends to develop Churchill Square by adapting its retail offer to community needs and investing in its infrastructure to play a part in supporting Brighton and Hove City Council’s drive to establish a thriving local circular economy.
Cindy Andersen, Ingka Centres’ managing director, said: “Brighton is known as a welcoming and progressive city, so it is a real privilege to take up responsibility for delivering a revitalised meeting place of which the many people can be truly proud.
“It fits perfectly into our global expansion strategy, allowing us to transform a traditional retail space to a meeting place that is much more than just a place to shop.”
