The first spade was put into the ground this week as work started on the new Ikea store coming to Charlton.

Due to open in winter 2018, Ikea will invest £100m in the new store at the Millennium Way Retail Park and will bring 500 jobs to the area, paying London Living Wage.

Planning permission was granted by Greenwich Council in July this year, but it wasn’t all plain sailing for Ikea to get the people of Charlton on board with the store.

Jane Bisset, the manager of the new Ikea, said “People wanted more wood and not just the blue box we usually have, along with lots of green space to the rear of the building.

“There is an overwhelming feeling now people are happy with the store in the area. The disagreement was back in 2014 and we have already taken on board their input."

The store will have 1,200 sqm roof terrace which will be open to the public with capacity for 500 people, as well as a 240 sqm roof pavilion and a garden.