DATE: 11 Mar 2005
Swedish retailer IKEA lost its High Court battle to overturn Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s refusal of plans for a £30 Million store near Stockport in Greater Manchester .
Mr Prescott turned down the proposed store off the M60 for the second time last year, arguing that it would generate too many car journeys and would have a negative impact on the region’s existing shopping destinations.
Christopher Katkowski QC, Counsel for IKEA, told the Court that Mr Prescott ignored favourable recommendations from the first Inspector who reviewed the scheme on his behalf, but Mr Justice Elias ruled that the ODPM was entitled to reject the store plans.
Mr Prescott’s Counsel Nathalie Lieven insisted that the size of the proposed store meant it would serve a regional catchment area, thus conflicting with Stockport's designation as a sub-regional centre.
Backing Mr Prescott, the Judge concluded; "The reasoning of the deputy prime minister is clear. He took the view that the catchment area was wider than the Stockport sub-region. The effect was that IKEA's sequential analysis was inadequate because it had focused on the narrower region."
The ruling is being studied by planning experts at Stockport Metropolitan Borough council.
