Inter Ikea Centre Group has unveiled plans to invest EUR 250 mln in the development of a shopping centre adjoining an Ikea store in Bayonne, in the Pays Basque, south-western France.

The Ikea-Ametzondo scheme will include a 24,000 m2 Ikea store integrated in a commercial centre offering 80 shops and 11 mid-size stores including a Carrefour hypermarket. Situated at a prime location at a 30-minute drive from Spain, the centre will offer a total of 70,000 m2 on two levels and 3,200 parking spaces.

Construction work is planned to start in June 2012, with the opening expected for the first half of 2014.

Ikea currently has 28 stores in France including two new ones in Reims and Avignon, which are expected to open in August this year.