British-owned DIY chain B&Q has called again on the Government to relax retail planning guidelines, claiming the rules are stymieing its expansion plans for the Republic.
The company, which yesterday announced that it would create 300 jobs with the opening next year of two new Irish outlets, including its first outside Dublin, said it could not offer the full range of DIY products when retail floor space was capped at 6,000 sq m.
A relaxation of the regulations would see it unveil further stores in Dublin and Cork as well as Limerick, Galway and "other proposed gateways", said B&Q director of operations Mr Diarmuid Walsh.
He said: "It is disappointing that the current retail planning guidelines have constrained the permitted store size as we would have liked to bring the wider range and service of B&Q... to these large markets."
The two new stores, at Mahon Point, Cork and Swords, Co Dublin, have planning permission for around 50,000 sq ft plus garden centre. B&Q already employs 400 in two Dublin branches.
