Primark in bid to expand store

Discount clothing retailer Primark today unveiled plans to treble the size of its Telford store, creating a spectacular new glass-fronted entrance and dozens of jobs.

The company, which currently employs 95 staff, wants to add 50,000 sq ft of floor space and build an extra entrance from the town's Ash Grey car park.

Bosses said the development would create many new jobs, probably taking the workforce to about 15.

"Primark in the shopping centre has been trading so successfully over recent months that it has requested more space in the town centre," explained Julian Seymour, a spokesman for the shopping centre.

"The new entrance will lead into a refurbished and refitted ground floor with additional new space being added above the existing shop.

"The existing entrance will be supplemented within the mall with new shop frontage on Dean Square."

The plans have been submitted to the council this week by Hark Group and Apollo, the new owners of the Telford Shopping Centre.

Rob Cossey, director of Hark Group, said the expansion represented one of the first building blocks in a programme of improvements and growth schemes for the shopping centre.

He added: "It's great that we have been able to get this going so quickly and is a sign of things to come.

"We know that the town centre is already successful, but we think that there is real potential to improve it in the future.

"Primark is just the start for us."

The shopping centre was sold to Hark Group and Apollo Real Estate Advisors in June by previous owners, the University Superannuation Scheme.

It is hoped that the Primark application will be discussed by the October meeting of Telford & Wrekin planning committee.

By Carl Jones