Primark coming to Burnley

4:20pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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HIGH street giant Primark is set to open a new flagship store in Burnley, the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal.

The retailer will confirm its plans to open its first East Lancashire store later this year and it could create up to 100 jobs.

Primark executives have been locked in talks with developers Henry Boot about becoming one of two ‘anchor’ stores for the new £70m Oval shopping centre on the edge of Burnley town centre.

The scheme is set to built on the former Pioneer site, off Curzon Street.

Securing a Primark store during the economic downturn has been hailed by town leaders as a coup and a major boost for Burnley.

Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: “I would be absolutely delighted if it is Primark because they are a very successful company.

“They are one of the few retailers who are doing very well and their sales are going in the right direction.

“They are popular and they will bring footfall into Burnley which will rub off on other stores.

“If Primark turn up in Burnley, it would be brilliant and absolutely superb news.

“We have always said that Burnley is on the up and this confirms it.”

And George Heys, president of the Burnley Chamber of Trade, added: “It will be good for jobs.

“Hopefully it will bring more people into the town and that will benefit everyone.”

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Manchester-based Henry Boot, which is managing the Oval on behalf of Burnley Council, was in “advanced discussions” with “six prominent retailers” about moving into the proposed shopping centre.

Primark would occupy one of the two larger ‘anchor’ units, while another big-name retailer, currently without premises in Burnley, would move into the other.

That news followed an announcement last year that Debenhams had pulled out of negotiations with Henry Boot following talks about the department store filling one of the anchor units.

The retail giant said it did not want to harm profits at its Blackburn store.

Asked about the Burnley store, a Primark spokesman said: “As negotiations are still ongoing I am unable to confirm our plans at this time.”

Henry Boot refused to comment.

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