IKEA is coming to Sussex

IKEA's parent company has confirmed that it has bought Brighton shopping mall Churchill Square, for a reported £145million.

Ingka Centres, part of the Ingka Group say they will open the new IKEA City store at the site of the now empty former Debenhams, offering 'a wide array of the brand’s most loved products', as well as products for delivery (via zero-emission vehicles).

They also intend to develop the mall into a 'meeting place' 'adapting its retail offer to community needs'.

It's almost three years since Ingka Centres bought Kings Mall in Hammersmith, London, similarly converting the old Debenhams into an IKEA City Store and moving a Lidl store into the site.

As well as Churchill Square, Ingka Centres has acquired Chartwell Court, a residential tower block on the site, two attached car parks and a leasehold on a third car park.

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.”

“We’ve proven in Hammersmith that traditional shopping centres have a strong future when they are adapted and constantly evolving to match the real needs of local communities. We’ll be working alongside our partners such as IKEA and the wider community to make everyday life better for the many people of Brighton, shaping and delivering an affordable, sustainable range of destination retail, restaurants, services and amenities.”

Churchill will reportedly remain open while work begins on the new IKEA store. It's expected to open within the next two years.