Primark is to invest more than £100 million in its UK stores in 2024, as it marks 50 years on the Great British High Street. The news includes more than £75 million of new investment in UK retail this year, building on plans it announced back in November 2022.
This year Primark will open brand new stores in Bury St. Edmunds, due to open on 6th March, as well as Teesside Park and Glasgow Fort later in the year. Alongside these, Primark will open some of its biggest ever store extensions across the country: London’s Westfield Stratford store will almost double in size to more than 81,000sq. ft to become the second largest Primark in the capital. Looking to the north, Metrocentre in Gateshead, Tyneside, will grow to almost 80,000sq. ft of total shopping space once reopened later this year.
New store locations and extensions combined, Primark is set to reach 195 stores and almost 8 million sq. ft of selling space by the end of the year. The new stores and significant extensions will result in almost 700 new jobs across these stores this year, ranging from retail assistants to store manager positions.
Whilst also relocating several 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 refit programme, with more stores to follow. This includes upgrading décor and store fixtures, alongside 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 in Epsom, Surrey, and Newbury, Berkshire, are also confirmed and are set to open from 2025. These new locations will contribute in excess of 55,000 sq. ft of new retail space once open, serving as a further boost to local shopping destinations.
Kari Rodgers, UK retail director at Primark, said: “We’ve changed a lot in the 50 years since we opened the doors on our first store in Great Britain in Derby back in 1974, but at our heart, we are still the same. We’re as committed as ever to offering the very best value on the high street and making great 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 ongoing commitment to the UK high street.”
Since the retailer first opened the doors to its Derby store back in September 1974, Primark has expanded nationwide and made its mark on the high street. Today, the retailer employs more than 30,000 people in the UK and has 192 stores across the nation’s cities and town centres, as well as shopping centres and retail parks.
During that time, Primark stores have evolved to now offer a range of services to complement the shopping experience. Today you can find beauty and beauty studios, food and drink cafes and outlets – including Tasty by Greggs and Disney Cafes. Joining the line up in 2022 was the introduction of Wornwell, a collaboration with the Vintage Wholesale company, offering pre-loved vintage clothing in store. Last year, Primark introduced a Click + Collect service to 57 stores across Greater London, the North West of England and North Wales, offering customers another way to shop and another reason to visit their local high street.
