Plans for a new IKEA store in Chester have taken a step forward, with council planners approving new signage for the site.

Forming part of the retailer's expansion plans to be closer to where customers live, work and socialise - IKEA will arrive in Chester this year.

The new store will open on the former Homebase site in the Greyhound Retail Park.

In an application submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council, plans were submitted to replace the current Homebase signage on the building.

The application mentioned IKEA wordmarks, an advertisement banner and flags - "which largely replace those already in place".

Approving the proposals, the report said: "It is considered that the proposed signage is acceptable with regards to visual amenity, given its design and as it largely replaces existing signage.

"It is considered the proposed signage would maintain current levels of public safety given the simple form, design and position."

The new store is the latest in a series of smaller formats that IKEA is opening in the UK - providing the "classic IKEA experience that customers know and love" on a smaller scale. 

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IKEA will offer a compact on-the-go food menu for customers to take away – where fans can still expect IKEA's much-loved meatballs. 

Peter Jelkeby, IKEA UK and Ireland CEO, said: "We know many people want to shop with IKEA but in some instances we are just too far away.

"That's why we are strategically expanding our UK footprint, with the aim of showing up in convenient, accessible locations for our customers.

"Centrally located in retail parks, our three new stores mark a major step forward in our expansion plan, making it easier than ever for customers in these areas to shop with us."

Peter Jelkeby added: "Harlow, Chester and Norwich have long been areas of interest to us, and we're looking forward to bringing the very best of the IKEA experience in a refreshingly compact format to these communities later this year."

The opening dates for the new IKEA stores in Harlow, Chester and Norwich will be announced in due course.