Ikea coming to Cork

lyndonjones

Not sure if this has been asked already but has anyone else heard the rumours that IKEA are coming to Cork, from what i have heard the Angem site in Carrigtwohill is where they will be situated.

Heard from two different sources.

Can anyone confirm or deny this rumour?

reverenddave

there's been rumours like that for years
i've heard mallow killarney limerick waterford youghal mahon point and ballincollig and indeed carrigtwohill

so i wont believe any of it until there is an official announcement from ikea

lyndonjones

reverenddave wrote: »

there's been rumours like that for years
i've heard mallow killarney limerick waterford youghal mahon point and ballincollig and indeed carrigtwohill

so i wont believe any of it until there is an official announcement from ikea

Totally agree but would be nice to have IKEA so close!!!!

munchkin_utd

probably only a rumour

heres an article from the summer and by that stage only Mallow were in concrete talks with Ikea

Carraigtwohil mentioned as something that "would be nice" but thats all.
(maybe progress happened since the summer)

http://www.corkindependent.com/local-news/local-news/retail-giant-for-cork/

Main thing is that it ISNT on the south ring.
Mahon point (or Liffey Valley in Dublin) shouldnt have happened along major routes but thats what happens when brown envelopes are a more important part of the planning process than plannning!!

reverenddave

yeah Amgen site would be awesome it's only a 5 minute drive from me

but i dont think amgen would part with the site for less then €50million

i remember they paid €35million ish in 2004 ish and spend a shedload clearing the site and fencing and groundworks

i cant see ikea paying that much for it

gbee

reverenddave wrote: »

but i dont think amgen would part with the site for less then €50million t

I think you should find the site was handed back to the IDA with a €5million cheque to cover the roadworks.

reverenddave

gbee wrote: »

I think you should find the site was handed back to the IDA with a €5million cheque to cover the roadworks.

AH i didn't know that

BRING ON IKEA THEN

lyndonjones

munchkin_utd wrote: »

probably only a rumour

heres an article from the summer and by that stage only Mallow were in concrete talks with Ikea

Carraigtwohil mentioned as something that "would be nice" but thats all.
(maybe progress happened since the summer)

http://www.corkindependent.com/local-news/local-news/retail-giant-for-cork/

Main thing is that it ISNT on the south ring.
Mahon point (or Liffey Valley in Dublin) shouldnt have happened along major routes but thats what happens when brown envelopes are a more important part of the planning process than plannning!!

Totally agree re: Mahon point, I know it is slight off the point but the access/ regress from there is woeful, again on Sunday afternoon queueing on the off-ramp for over 20 mins as we all crawl through 3 sets of traffic lights.

Liffey valley in Dublin is not as bad as Mahon, one entrance into the complex - Crazy!!!

gbee

gbee wrote: »

I think you should find the site was handed back to the IDA with a €5million cheque to cover the roadworks.

Do the IDA own the site so ? If so surely they have little or no interest in losing it to Ikea.

lyndonjones

More I think about it the more the infrastructure around the site would have to be developed, the potential traffic it would bring to the area would be a major draw back.

So as it stands it is a distant pipe dream!

gimmick

The Carrigtowhill is a non starter as it is deemed too "Cork centric). From what I have been told, it will be in the Mallow area so its can encompass Limerick, Tipp and Clare.

Seems odd though as no way could the roads on the Limerick side of Mallow handle the traffic this would attract.

star.chaser

reverenddave wrote: »

there's been rumours like that for years
i've heard mallow killarney limerick waterford youghal mahon point and ballincollig and indeed carrigtwohill

so i wont believe any of it until there is an official announcement from ikea

i heard they were taking the old terminal at the airport

star.chaser

star.chaser wrote: »

i heard they were taking the old terminal at the airport

Zero chance of that happening.

parsi

star.chaser wrote: »

i heard they were taking the old terminal at the airport

I heard that Clayton Love was selling Douglas Court to them. Though there was also a rumour that they were going into the old Dunnes in Bishopstown.

*These rumours may or may not be total fabrications.

lyndonjones

RoverJames wrote: »

Zero chance of that happening.

Agree not a hope of that happening.

I had heard of Mallow being a possible place also and it would sense, geographically speaking, it would bring in punters from the West as well as the South-West.

up them Schteps

Ya, Mallow would make sense. An Ikea would need a site similar to the Aldi/Lidl** warehouse along that road.

**I'm not sure what company operates out of it.....

Max001

Used to work for Ikea doing new store start-ups in the early 90's when they were setting up in the UK. Generally the rule of thumb was that a potential site needed a catchment of ten million people within 30 mins driving to be viable. That said, some outlets are smaller in size and some are franchises, so that rule is flexible. I'd doubt Ikea would put another store in Ireland. Just can't see it being viable.

Hogzy

Max001 wrote: »

Used to work for Ikea doing new store start-ups in the early 90's when they were setting up in the UK. Generally the rule of thumb was that a potential site needed a catchment of ten million people within 30 mins driving to be viable. That said, some outlets are smaller in size and some are franchises, so that rule is flexible. I'd doubt Ikea would put another store in Ireland. Just can't see it being viable.

There are very few places in the world that have 10 million people within a 30min drive. Are you sure your figures are right?
Id say its more like 1 Million.

tonydude

I thought it was between Mallow and Mitchelstown

G_R

Max001 wrote: »

Used to work for Ikea doing new store start-ups in the early 90's when they were setting up in the UK. Generally the rule of thumb was that a potential site needed a catchment of ten million people within 30 mins driving to be viable. That said, some outlets are smaller in size and some are franchises, so that rule is flexible. I'd doubt Ikea would put another store in Ireland. Just can't see it being viable.

going by that there would only be about 7 in all of the UK

Max001

Bear in mind, I'm tryin to recall from 20 yrs ago It was likely a ten million person catchment within an hour's drive. If you look at the sequencing of the UK store openings, it was Wembley, Warrington, Birmingham....and I forget which came next, but in these cases I'd guess the catchment is roughly 10 million. This approximate rule is still applied judging from the latest proposed store locations in UK. I'd guess the economics are different depending on the exact configuration of the store and the proposed location. There's a fairly wide variation in store sizes and configurations. I'd still bet against an Ikea in Cork. What'd be the population within an hour's drive? 500,000? (if that)

gbee

Max001 wrote: »

Bear in mind, I'm tryin to recall from 20 yrs ago It was likely a ten million perso What'd be the population within an hour's drive? 500,000? (if that)

100,000 if in Mallow. There is about 500.000 in Cork & County add in Limerick from there and the MY from Dublin is not too far outside an hour to Mallow now too.

bladebrew

i would love to see them open in cork, but i doubt they will, people already travel to dublin from all over ireland to shop there so it may not be worth their while opening one down south,

Manach

Given Mallow's rail-link as well, the catchment area of West Cork and Kerry could be included.

lyndonjones

bladebrew wrote: »

i would love to see them open in cork, but i doubt they will, people already travel to dublin from all over ireland to shop there so it may not be worth their while opening one down south,

Hate to admit it but I think you are right, Dublin is only 2.5hours by car from Cork.

Hogzy

Manach wrote: »

Given Mallow's rail-link as well, the catchment area of West Cork and Kerry could be included.

Who is going to take the train to Ikea?

SeaFields

Hogzy wrote: »

Who is going to take the train to Ikea?

Same fella whose taking the horse to France :pac:




Sorry, could resist!

scuby

RoverJames wrote: »

Do the IDA own the site so ? If so surely they have little or no interest in losing it to Ikea.

IDA defo got site back from Amgen, was handed back to them officially a few months ago...

ikea was also discussed on cork politics before, seems to crop every now and again, not sure if it will ever happen tbh

http://corkpolitics.ie/wp/?p=5625

rebel girl 15

up them Schteps wrote: »

Ya, Mallow would make sense. An Ikea would need a site similar to the Aldi/Lidl** warehouse along that road.

**I'm not sure what company operates out of it.....

The one near Charleville??

could put it where the old sugar factory is, build the Mallow west complex (if that will ever happen) around it

peteandjenn

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/business/ikea-hold-preliminary-talks-with-mallow-council-467441.html

They are in planning of building a motorway from Cork to Limerick and more than likely the Ikea store will be built in the old sugar factory site. As Mallow is the crossroads of munster it would have costomers from Kerry, Cork and Limerick. There would be easy access from this new motorway to and from the old sugar factory site.

Owen

I can't see the logic of Mallow, but no doubt brown paper envelopes are being prepped as we speak. Roads in and out of Mallow are a disaster, even the roads IN Mallow are a disaster with the light traffic it services. Add a motorway onto that, and you're going to be funnelling in heavy traffic onto small rural town roads and it'll end in tears. And IKEA would love the extra hassle getting deliveries/etc will be being in Mallow as opposed to Cork.

The Amgen site is logically the most sound, but since when has that ever meant anything planning/decision wise in this country? Cork has a good catchment - Limerick/Kerry/Waterford/Tipp are all close, plus there's the RoRo Ferry Service from Ringaskiddy for restocking purposes too. The Dual Carriageway already in place would ease traffic flow compared to Mallow.

rebel girl 15

peteandjenn wrote: »

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/business/ikea-hold-preliminary-talks-with-mallow-council-467441.html

They are in planning of building a motorway from Cork to Limerick and more than likely the Ikea store will be built in the old sugar factory site. As Mallow is the crossroads of munster it would have costomers from Kerry, Cork and Limerick. There would be easy access from this new motorway to and from the old sugar factory site.

That link is broken, found the story though and its from 30 July! There has been no definite decision - that meeting was to basically stake Mallow's case for Ikea to locate there.

Once the motorway is built, access won't really become an issue. Access to that site from Cork, Kerry and Limerick is quite good, site is only five min spin from train station as well. Hopefully if it is the sugar factory, it would be the start of a major development out there

Owen

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Once the motorway is built, access won't really become an issue.

That Motorway is going to be a very long time being built. IKEA will want to be open before then. IIRC the roads forum on here are saying it'll be about 5 years before that Motorway is done.

dextero

Why dont people buy proper furniture anymore? You know the type made by a carpenter out of wood, that you keep for a lifetime and pay more than a tenner for! Spend a lot more in the long run on all this cheap crap you see everywhere.

pegasus1

dannym08 wrote: »

going by that there would only be about 7 in all of the UK

and with 9.3 million people in sweden means not even 1 ikea in its home country!!:eek:

http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdi&met=sp_pop_totl&idim=country:SWE&dl=en&hl=en&q=what+is+the+population+in+sweden

star.chaser

parsi wrote: »

I heard that Clayton Love was selling Douglas Court to them. Though there was also a rumour that they were going into the old Dunnes in Bishopstown.

*These rumours may or may not be total fabrications.

Square deal on Washington street are also rumored to be building another level and leasing it to IKEA, did you hear that one?

LenaClaire

star.chaser wrote: »

Square deal on Washington street are also rumored to be building another level and leasing it to IKEA, did you hear that one?

I can't imagine that would be anywhere enough space for an IKEA even with an added level. IKEA shops are huge.

peteandjenn

PaintDoctor wrote: »

I can't see the logic of Mallow, but no doubt brown paper envelopes are being prepped as we speak. Roads in and out of Mallow are a disaster, even the roads IN Mallow are a disaster with the light traffic it services. Add a motorway onto that, and you're going to be funnelling in heavy traffic onto small rural town roads and it'll end in tears. And IKEA would love the extra hassle getting deliveries/etc will be being in Mallow as opposed to Cork.

The Amgen site is logically the most sound, but since when has that ever meant anything planning/decision wise in this country? Cork has a good catchment - Limerick/Kerry/Waterford/Tipp are all close, plus there's the RoRo Ferry Service from Ringaskiddy for restocking purposes too. The Dual Carriageway already in place would ease traffic flow compared to Mallow.

The Sugarfactory site is no where near the town center. Any one driving to the sugar factory site from Cork, Limerick or Kerry wouldn't even have to see the town of Mallow if they didn't want to!! So I can't see how it would bring extra traffic to the town. They are sorting out the lights at the bridge as we speak. They are building a boardwalk across the blackwater so that thay can take the footpath off the bridge to make it wider and knocking the old toilets to make extra lanes of traffic If any one from Ikea wanted to visit the town of Mallow

peteandjenn

PaintDoctor wrote: »

That Motorway is going to be a very long time being built. IKEA will want to be open before then. IIRC the roads forum on here are saying it'll be about 5 years before that Motorway is done.

The motorway will have to be built or in process of being built before Ikea will ever turn a sod of grass. No point in building a motorway and then when its built having to rebuild a new access and exit road off it.

peteandjenn

Oh and I forgot to say the amgem site won't be used as Dublin is the same distance from Waterford as it is from Cork so they wouldn't gain anything from there and Tipperary is alot closer to Mallow as it is from Cork so I suppose you could and another county to the list Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary woo hoo

star.chaser

jujibee wrote: »

I can't imagine that would be anywhere enough space for an IKEA even with an added level. IKEA shops are huge.

they're only leasing the new level not the whole building and then they're going to go head to head

LenaClaire

star.chaser wrote: »

they're only leasing the new level not the whole building and then they're going to go head to head

Do people honestly think that would work?

gbee

jujibee wrote: »

Do people honestly think that would work?

I thought the comment was misplaced myself.

Abelloid

jujibee wrote: »

I can't imagine that would be anywhere enough space for an IKEA even with an added level. IKEA shops are huge.

Only after assembly.

parsi

jujibee wrote: »

Do people honestly think that would work?

I can see Square Deal giving them Swedes a run for their money alright. Plenty of on-street car parking in Washington Street and all.

grenache

Mallow is the most logical place to have an IKEA if its to come to the South West at all. Its the most central location and the town is crying out for proper investment since the closure of Irish Sugar.

Owen

Mallow makes no sense at all. It'll be 5 years before it has a decent road network to cope with traffic, and it's far from being central. I sympathise with the loss of the sugar plant, but it's hardly grounds to shoehorn in a company the town currently isn't capable of supporting.

star.chaser

Apparently, IKEA are in talks with OFC about taking the first 9 storeys of the Elysian and two levels of the underground car park.

Abelloid

I heard they were after Little Island, all of it, but plan to detach it and push it out to meet the South ring at Mahon.

Owen

Little Island wouldn't be the worst idea, there's so many vacant units in Eastgate with a bucket load of parking outside. Turn the parking into a multistorey and you're sorted.

The more I think about Mallow, the more I think what a bad idea it is. There's no road worth talking about going into the place, coming from Cork it's a single carriageway but wide, leaving Mallow for Limerick it's a small twisty road to NewTwopotHouse and on to glorious Buttevant. Go West and you're on small roads again until you get past the petrol station, go East and you're on smaller roads to Mitchelstown.

Plus, Mallow can't even handle traffic it has at the moment, getting through the main street at busy times can be fun. Add in a few hundred shoppers and their cars popping into the McDonalds after IKEA, and it'd go mental. Some farmer would be done for manslaughter after 3 weeks of being stuck in traffic

star.chaser

JustinOval wrote: »

I heard they were after Little Island, all of it, but plan to detach it and push it out to meet the South ring at Mahon.

yeah, i heard about that. they had an ad in the echo looking for volunteers to push it but couldn't find enough so the idea was scrapped.