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Six One News: Michael Fisher reports that variation in planning regulations between the Republic and Northern Ireland mean that Belfast will be the first city in Ireland with an IKEA furniture store
The home furnishing company, IKEA, has received planning permission for a big store on the outskirts of Belfast.
A spokesperson said it would be opening its doors for business by November of next year, and that the Belfast base would be operating before the planned new store in Dublin.
The store, at Holywood Exchange in east Belfast, will be the Swedish retailer's first shop on the island of Ireland.
Around 500 jobs will be created. The proposed IKEA store in Dublin is also expected to employ 500 people but is not expected to be completed until after the Belfast store.
Construction is due to begin in January.
