Traffic concerns raised over plans for new Ikea superstore in Lancashire

Concerns have been raised about whether the road network in Lancashire can cope if plans to build an Ikea superstore near Preston get the go-ahead.

Highways England say there are "fundamental issues" with the proposal as it could increase traffic levels.

Ikea are seeking planning permission to build their new store at Cuerden which would create around four thousand five hundred new jobs.

Lancashire County Council say the concerns raised by Highways England are standard with any scheme of this nature and they're working closely with them.

Councillor Paul Wharton has met with planners and raised concerns about the traffic levels.

He told us it's gridlock in the area where the Ikea is proposed already:

"I can only imagine what it will be like with the introduction of additional traffic from Ikea. They assured me they would look into this properly before the planning application came forward. This clearly hasn't been done with the current highways report and my main concerns are that residents were not being listened to and their needs were being put behind the interest to bring employment to the area."

We are waiting for a more detailed statement from the planners reacting to this.

• Cuerden
• Bamber Bridge
• Superstore