THE first phase of construction work on a new IKEA store near Chorley will start early next year.

Organisers behind the scheme say the early stages are currently taking place on the site and they are getting ready for work to being in 2018.

The scheme will create nearly 7,500 jobs from the start of the construction process to employment at the new development.

It comes after the application for the Cuerden Strategic Site in South Ribble was made by Lancashire County Council and Maple Grove Developments, part of the Eric Wright Group, in association with Brookhouse Group, was approved in October.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “This will be a high-quality, employment-led development which will have a significant positive impact on the local economy.

“The site will contribute around £241 million per year to the central Lancashire economy, creating over 4,500 permanent new jobs in addition to approximately 2,900 jobs during construction.

“The development will see major investment into the local highways infrastructure and will provide new green infrastructure and landscaping, and new footpath and cycle routes which will link the site to existing amenities, including Cuerden Valley Park.

“It will also bring new retail and leisure to the area, including Lancashire’s first IKEA store.”

It is hoped the first phase of the development will be completed in 2020.

The scheme will have commercial, residential and office elements to the development.

IKEA have already signed up and discussions are advanced with several well-known businesses about coming to the area.

Even though planning permission has been granted for the first phase of the development and the infrastructure works, the remainder of the site will be covered by outline consent which will be submitted to South Ribble Council.

Cllr Alan Cullens, who represents the Clayton-le-Woods West and Cuerden area, welcomes the plan for jobs in the area but hopes some local concerns will be addressed in future planning applications.

He said: “There are strong concerns that there will be some work improving roads around Bamber Bridge.

“But we are worried about the impact at Junction 28 of the M6 where there is already a bottleneck near the Woodsman pub and bar and this development will add to the pressure there.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Alistair Bradley, leader of Chorley Council, admitted they were in discussion with South Ribble Council and developers.

He said: “We are continuing to express our concerns about the plans for the Cuerden site to both South Ribble Borough Council and the developers to mitigate against the impact that it will have on Chorley town centre and the traffic and highways surrounding the area.

“It is important to make clear that the mitigation payment we are seeking is to address public realm and highway improvements that will be needed if this development goes ahead.

“We are not against bringing in new business to the area and we want to see economic growth across Lancashire.

“However, we have a responsibility to protect the interests of the Chorley borough, our residents and local businesses and still think that a development of this size would have an effect on the area.”