Shoppers in Dartford face a shake-up as a familiar high street name signals change, citing costly repairs and shifting shopping patterns across the area.
Primark has confirmed plans to shut its town-centre branch at The Orchards Shopping Centre in the new year, with trading expected to cease after Christmas. The retailer says extensive building repairs and the draw of larger nearby stores have tipped the balance. It marks the company’s first UK branch closure in more than ten years.
A rare retreat after a decade of growth
The Dartford unit has served as a compact, convenient stop for basics and seasonal buys. That convenience now collides with expensive remedial work on the building. The sums no longer stack up, according to the company’s UK South and South East leadership. After a long run of store openings and refurbishments, stepping back from a legacy site signals a pragmatic reshuffle of the estate rather than a change in the brand’s wider strategy.
Primark says significant repair work at the Dartford building makes investment unviable given two larger stores nearby.
The shop remains open for now. No final trading date has been announced. Customers should expect the lights to stay on through the festive rush, with further updates promised in the new year.
Why Dartford made the list
Two forces are at play. The first is the condition of the premises. Large-scale repairs cost money and disrupt trade. The second is competition from within the brand’s own network. Primark opened a substantial store at Bluewater in 2019, adding to the long-established Bexleyheath branch on The Broadway. Both offer a wider range than Dartford can carry.
Footfall has drifted towards those bigger formats. That is common when retail parks and destination malls sit close to compact town-centre units. Shoppers chase breadth of choice, better stock availability, and modern fitting rooms. Those features are easier to deliver in larger footprints.
The retailer links reduced Dartford footfall to the expanded offer at Bluewater and the strong pull of Bexleyheath.
The pull of Bluewater and Bexleyheath
Bluewater’s appeal lies in scale. It allows deeper ranges across womenswear, menswear, kids, home and beauty. Bexleyheath brings convenience to a busy high street with a sizeable floorspace. For many Dartford customers, both are a short bus ride or drive away. That proximity erodes the case for heavy investment in a smaller unit that needs structural work.
What this means for staff and customers
Fifty-three employees work at the Dartford branch. Primark has started a consultation process and says it will look at redeployment where possible. Some roles may move to nearby stores if vacancies and shift patterns align. Others could be affected if no suitable roles emerge.
Customers can continue shopping at Dartford during the Christmas period. Gift returns, exchanges and online stock checks will operate as normal while the store remains open. Staff have been told the business will communicate timings as the consultation progresses.
Nearby shopping options compared
| Store | Location | Size and range | Travel notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primark Bluewater | Greenhithe | Large format with extensive ranges across fashion, home and beauty | Destination mall with parking and multiple public transport links |
| Primark Bexleyheath | The Broadway, Bexleyheath | Big town-centre store with broad range coverage | High street location served by buses and nearby rail connections |
| Primark Dartford | The Orchards Shopping Centre | Smaller footprint; trading until after Christmas | Central location; closure planned in the new year |
Key dates and what to do next
- Trading continues through Christmas unless advised otherwise in-store.
- Check receipts for return windows during peak-season purchases.
- Consider Bluewater or Bexleyheath for stock not available in Dartford.
- Gift card holders can use cards at any Primark store after Dartford closes.
- Look out for staff notices about final sale periods and stock transfers.
The building repairs question
Retailers weigh refurbishment costs against expected sales uplift. Repairs to roofs, façades, services and accessibility can run high, especially in older blocks. When a nearby modern site already services the same catchment, returns diminish. That appears to be the calculus in Dartford. The company has said the level of investment required isn’t viable while two larger branches sit within easy reach.
For landlords, a repair-heavy unit can struggle to attract tenants on long leases without incentives. Short-term pop-ups or community uses sometimes fill the gap while owners plan upgrades or redevelopment. The Orchards Shopping Centre will now weigh its options for the space if Primark exits.
Impact on Dartford’s town centre
High street health depends on anchor names drawing regular visits. Primark has played that role for years in Dartford. The shift of spending to destination centres can thin weekday footfall. That hits cafés, service businesses and independents near an anchor store. The effect need not be permanent. New tenants, click-and-collect hubs, and events can rebuild momentum, particularly if the centre refreshes its mix.
What staff can expect from consultation
In a typical retail consultation, managers discuss options with affected colleagues. These can include redeployment to nearby stores, changes in hours, or voluntary redundancy where available. Employees can ask about travel support for moves, training for new roles, and timelines for decisions. Keeping written records of discussions helps if staff need to compare offers or appeal outcomes.
For customers relying on Dartford
Plan essential purchases early in January in case the final trading days fall sooner than expected. Check in-store for any last delivery dates or stock transfers to Bluewater and Bexleyheath. If you need larger sizes, niche lines or homeware, the bigger branches will be the safer bet once Christmas lines sell through.
Wider retail context
Store networks constantly flex. Brands prune smaller sites that overlap with stronger, newer locations. Large-format units concentrate stock and staffing, which can improve availability and margins. Town centres that keep a balance of anchors, local specialists and services withstand these shifts better. Dartford now faces a test. The response from the centre’s management and the speed of re-letting will shape what shoppers find by spring.
The store remains open for the festive season; a closure date will follow consultation with 53 staff.
Practical pointers for the weeks ahead
Ask staff about gift receipt policies and any changes to opening hours in January. Keep gift cards in a safe place; they remain valid at other branches. If you rely on accessibility features, trial your preferred alternative store on a quieter weekday to check parking, lifts and fitting rooms before peak weekends return.
If you are travelling without a car, compare bus routes and journey times to Bluewater and Bexleyheath during off-peak hours. Factor in returns windows when buying gifts late in December. These small steps reduce hassle during a period of change and help you keep your routine while the town centre adjusts.
Tough news. What guarentees are there for the 53 staff—will redeployment to Bluewater or Bexleyheath come with travel support and matched hours, or are cuts inevitable?