Swedish retailer Ikea has confirmed it will open its new shop on London’s Oxford Street on 1 May – 18 months later than originally planned.
McLaren’s refurbishment of the former Topshop flagship store was delayed twice due to “unexpected conditions” and a water leak in the building’s basement.
Work started on site in 2022, but the initial opening, scheduled for autumn 2023, was pushed back to autumn 2024 before being delayed again to spring 2025.
The Ikea store will span 5,800 sq m over three floors of the seven-storey building, including a showroom and a restaurant with the retailer’s popular Swedish meatballs.
It will be of similar size to the Ikea in Hammersmith, West London.
‘Extensive environmental upgrade’
McLaren’s project for the world’s largest furniture retailer included an “extensive environmental upgrade” of the Grade II-listed building at 214 Oxford Street, in the heart of the West End.
Gas-fired boilers were replaced with air-source heat pumps, along with the installation of secondary glazing, cleaning and restoration of the building’s historic facade, and a “sympathetic” lighting scheme to illuminate the building at night.
The project also included refurbishment of the fourth floor’s Victorian roof lantern, which now has a “contemporary covering” to help preserve it and improve the building’s energy performance.
Ingka Investments, Ikea’s investment arm and the building’s owner, said it aims to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification for the store.
The remaining four floors of the building’s office space will be occupied by three other retail outlets.
Peter Jelkeby, CEO and chief sustainability officer of Ikea UK, said: “We have worked carefully to ensure we maintain the character of this historic building whilst creating a modern retail environment for customers to explore and be inspired.
“Ikea Oxford Street’s location complements our network of stores in London – and beyond – and allows us to be closer to where our customers live, work and shop, while importantly being easily accessible by foot or public transport.”
