A hundred blue and yellow tears…

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Photo owned by f59t8y (cc)

Delays on the work to the M50 are likely to delay to opening of Ikea’s planned landmark store in Ballymun to the tune of several months. It looks like a classic case of a clash between Swedish efficiency and bad Irish execution on planning and construction. From today’s Irish Times:

The distinctive blue-and-yellow frame of the 31,800sq m building has now been erected on lands bordering the M50 and St Margaret’s Road in north Dublin. The company said the 56-week build is three weeks ahead of schedule.

Oh, and this is apparently the first time the Swedish retailing giant has experienced this problem, again from John Lawrence’s piece:

Ikea said this delay would prevent it from opening, adding that it had never experienced such a delay in opening any of its 282 stores in 36 countries. It has not yet had a store set back by more than two weeks, said Garry Deakin, Ikea’s Ireland manager.

Mr Deakin said it was now his understanding that the M50 project in the area would be complete by late summer 2009 and he commented that Ikea was “unhappy” about this.

Hmm, even during a slump in the construction industry in a economic climate where more construction workers are looking for work than ever, the M50 is delayed. I understand that project management timelines, contracts are sewn up and we are entering a time of forced fiscal responsibility, but I just find it interesting. Ah sure well, you can imagine the tears being shed in the Ikea mothership as the delay pushes them to opening the midst of a deeper economic abyss.

July 24th, 2008 at 3:27 pm • Filed in Business, Life



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