Earlier this month, police were forced to arrest nine people and issue 34 dispersal orders after a social media campaign suggested people try to rob retailers on Oxford Street.
Ikea’s Grade-II listed building on Oxford Circus has been empty since 2021 when Topshop collapsed into administration. The London site is owned by the investment arm of Ingka, the largest franchisee of Ikea.
As part of its overhaul, fossil fuel gas-fired boilers are being removed and replaced with air source heat pumps. Ingka will also install secondary glazing to improve energy efficiency.
Peter van der Poel, the managing director at Ingka Investments, said: “When refurbishing this over 100-year-old historic landmark, it’s important for us as an investor to treat the building with care and to preserve its characteristics and atmosphere.
“At the same time, we want to upgrade it to today’s standards with the best possible sustainability credentials.
“To ensure all of this, the extensive refurbishment will take more time than initially anticipated.”
Three of the floors will be used for retail, while the remaining four will be used as office space.
Ikea is planning to stock 6,000 products at the site when it opens. Around half will be available for shoppers to take away immediately, while larger furniture will either need to be ordered for home delivery or picked up at Ikea collection points across London.
The Oxford Circus opening is part of plans by the Swedish retailer to reduce its reliance on big out-of-town outlets.
