This year Primark will open new stores in Bury St. Edmunds, opening on March 6, as well as in Teesside Park and Glasgow Fort later in the year. As well as this, Primark will open some of its largest store extensions across the country – London's Westfield Stratford store will almost double in size to more than 81,000 square metres. ft to become the second largest Primark in the capital. Looking north, Metrocentre in Gateshead, Tyneside, will grow to almost 80,000 square metres. ft. of total retail space once reopened later this year.
Primark is investing more than £100 million in UK stores by 2024, marking 50 years on the high street. This includes opening new stores and expanding existing ones, creating almost 700 jobs. They are also renovating stores and planning new locations in Epsom and Newbury. The company emphasizes its commitment to affordability and supporting local shopping.
Combining new store locations and expansions, Primark will reach 195 stores and almost 8 million square feet of retail space by the end of the year. The new stores and major expansions will create nearly 700 new jobs at these stores this year, from retail assistants to store manager positions.
As well as relocating a number of Primark stores in Bradford, High Wycombe and Bolton to new and improved sites, 15 existing stores will be refurbished this year as part of its ongoing refurbishment programme, with more stores to follow. This includes upgrading store décor and fittings, along with the continued rollout of LED lighting as part of Primark's progress towards its commitment to halve its carbon footprint by 2030.
Two new store locations have also been confirmed in Epsom, Surrey and Newbury, Berkshire, scheduled to open in 2025. These new locations will contribute over 55,000 sq ft of new retail space once open, serving as a further boost for local shopping destinations.
Kari Rodgers, Primark UK Retail Director said: “We have changed a lot in the fifty years since we opened the doors to our first British store in Derby in 1974, but at heart we remain the same. We are as committed as ever to offering the best value on the high street and making good fashion more affordable and accessible for everyone. “This latest investment will mean bigger and better stores, hundreds of new jobs across the country and shows our continued commitment to the UK high street.”
Since the retailer opened the doors of its Derby store in September 1974, Primark has expanded across the country and made its mark on the high street. The retailer currently employs more than 30,000 people in the UK and has 192 stores in the country's cities and town centres, as well as shopping centers and retail parks.
Over that time, Primark stores have evolved to now offer a range of services to complement the shopping experience. Today you can find beauty centers and beauty studios, cafes and food and drink establishments, including Tasty by Greggs and Disney Cafes. The line was joined in 2022 by the presentation of Wornwell, a collaboration with the company Vintage Wholesale, which offers used vintage clothing in the store. Last year, Primark introduced a Click + Collect service in 57 stores across Greater London, North West England and North Wales, giving customers another way to shop and another reason to visit their local high street.
Outside the UK, Primark can now be found in 15 other countries and has ambitions to reach 530 stores in its markets by the end of 2026.
The list of UK Primark stores included in this year's renovation program is as follows:
Oxford Street East, 14-28 Oxford Street, Fitzrovia, London W1D 1AU
Bury, The Rock Shopping Centre, South Street, Bury BL9 0ND
Cwmbran Shopping Centre, General Rees Square, Cwmbran NP44 1AH
Southport, 1 Chapel Street, Southport PR8 1AE
Yeovil, 19 Middle Street, Yeovil BA20 1LF
Barnstaple, 49 – 52 High Street, Barnstaple EX31 1BZ
Hackney, 365 – 371 Mare Street, London E8 1HY
Newry, Unit 55 Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Newry BT35 8HJ
Birkenhead, 212 – 218 Grange Road, Birkenhead CH41 6EA
Hounslow, 165 – 169 High Street, Hounslow TW3 1QL
Chelmsford, 9 Alto Chelmer, Chelmsford CM1 1XL
Stockport, Chestergate, Stockport SK1 1NT
Telford, 208 Dean Street, The Telford Centre, Telford TF3 4AP
Chester, 52-60 Foregate St, Chester CH1 1HA
Cambridge, 62-74 Burleigh St, Cambridge CB1 1DJ
Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.
Fiber2Fashion News Desk (RM)
