Retail Week Interiors - Wal-Mart's Ohio opening must play by the rules

Wal-Mart, famed for its uncompromising approach to design, is to open a store that goes against its standard format.

It has been given the green light to build a 203,000 sq ft (18,855 sq m) outlet at Deerfield Township, Ohio, subject to several conditions.

The rules, set out by Deerfield's zoning commission, include a ban on outside storage and sales, and a rearranged internal layout.

The retailer has also been asked to limit the amount of signage and possibly to reduce the number of parking spaces or even the building size.

At a meeting of the zoning commission in January, 82 per cent were opposed to the store opening, many citing increased traffic worries.