Fast fashion retailer Primark has announced plans for a flagship at Milton Keynes shopping centre thecentre:mk and will form part of a showcase of upcoming retailers at the space this weekend.
Today and tomorrow, the owners of thecentre:mk will unveil Primark as agreeing to 90,000 ft flagship store in its shopping centre which will trade across three levels.
A public exhibition in Middleton Hall attended by stakeholders and members of the public will set the wheels in motion for a £40 million planning investment for the store.
Many of the retail units have undergone major reconstruction hoping to improve the site, removing the southern section of the Secklow Gate Bridge in order to open up land south of the shopping centre.
Extension of the John Lewis store within the centre is already underway at a cost of £27 million, along with a £6 million refurbishment to fashion retailer Next following a £4.5 million restyle to the House of Fraser department store.
Ben Tolhurst, Asset Manager of Hermes Real Estate Investment Management Limited, said: “We are firmly committed to the development and evolution of thecentre:mk, and the introduction of high profile retailers looking to expand into this Milton Keynes is critical to maintaining its national retail rankings.
“Primark has had a requirement for Central Milton Keynes for some time, which is testament to the strong customer demand in the area.”
It is a shopping destination which currently attracts 27 million visitors a year with 230 cafes, stores and restaurants all under one roof.
Primark, which earlier this month announced a total sales rise of 16 per cent for the 40 weeks to June 23rd 2012, believes the Milton Keynes centre is the ideal location for the next step in expansion of its store portfolio.
A spokesman said: “We look forward to opening a new store at thecentre:mk.
“Milton Keynes provides an ideal location for Primark as it meets our requirements for store locations and is already a popular destination for our target customer.”
