(Granada area) The latest date given by this Swedish furniture giant for the opening of the Granada branch in Pulianas is summer 2013, according to the mayor of the town. However, a spokesman for the company didn’t want to confirm this information, preferring to state that they continue to like the idea of a shopping estate within Pulianas: “We maintain the same interest in having a shop in Granada, although the situation is not one of the most ideal.”

The socialist mayor, Gil Bracero, insists that the negotiations for the purchase of the land on which the plot will sit ‘is going very well.’ Furthermore, Ikea has asked the Town Hall to improve access for the shopping centre and the Mayor has promised to do so using the 2012 budget.

The Mayor is understandably keen on Ikea literally setting up shop in his town, because it means an investment of 250m euros and would directly and indirectly generate 4,000 jobs.

(Pulianas, Granada, Andalucia)