Primark buys Birmingham shopping centre

Fast-fashion retailer Primark has bought The Pavilions shopping centre in Birmingham, paving the way for a four-floor superstore. The budget clothing retailer has stated that it wants to create a 150,000 square foot, four story store, which will almost match its largest outlet  in Manchester, to transform the shopping

centre. The store will employ nearly 900 people, 430 of which will transfer from Primark’s existing New Street store in the city centre, while 448 new jobs will be created at the Pavilions.

The store will sit alongside other retailers within the 250,000 square foot Pavilions shopping centre, which currently includes H&M, Marks & Spencer and Evans, who will rent their outlets from Primark. Construction on the new store, which will become the firm’s largest in UK and Europe will begin next year, once planning permission has been approved.

Primark acquires Birmingham's Pavilions shopping centre

A Primark spokesperson said: “We hope to build one of our biggest stores in this important city, and look forward to bringing the best of fashion, the best of everyday clothing and the best of homeware to our customers at the best value on the high street.”

Primark, which is owned by Associated British Foods, hasn’t confirmed how much they have paid for the shopping centre, but the sale price by former owners UBS Triton Property Fund was 60 million pounds.

The acquisition came as Primark revealed its sales had jumped 22 percent in the third quarter to June 21, which it claimed was boosted by the “warm weather”. The Pavilions store is also part of Primark’s plan to open one million square foot of new space, which has already included new stores opening in France in Marseille and Dijon.