Shoppers in Kent face a shake-up as a familiar fashion name weighs costly repairs, nearby competition and a busy festive season.
Primark has confirmed plans to close its Dartford branch in the new year, marking its first UK store shutdown in more than a decade. The retailer points to the condition of the building at The Orchards Shopping Centre and the high cost of essential works. The shop will trade through Christmas while a staff consultation runs its course and a final date is set.
What Primark says about the closure
Company managers say significant repairs are required at the Dartford site and the investment does not stack up given two larger Primark stores sit a short distance away. Bluewater in Greenhithe and Bexleyheath both draw heavy footfall and carry fuller ranges, which has squeezed the smaller town-centre unit.
Primark plans to close its Dartford store after Christmas, citing expensive building repairs and competition from nearby larger branches.
In a note to staff, Primark said the store remains open for now and promised updates when decisions are final. The retailer confirmed a consultation is under way with all employees and pledged to look at redeployment wherever roles and commuting distances make sense.
What this means for staff and shoppers
The Dartford shop employs 53 people. Primark says it will seek to move affected team members to other stores where vacancies exist. Bluewater and Bexleyheath present the most likely options, but shift patterns, transport and personal commitments will dictate whether redeployment works for each person.
For shoppers, Christmas plans should not change. The store continues to trade through the peak season and any January sale activity will depend on the final closure date. After shutters come down, customers will need to head to nearby branches for returns or exchanges.
- Gift receipts still matter: keep them safe to smooth any post-Christmas exchanges at other stores.
- Check opening hours: Bluewater and Bexleyheath often run extended hours in peak periods.
- Travel choices: both alternatives sit within a short bus ride or drive from Dartford town centre.
- No full online shop: Primark does not offer home delivery, so store visits remain essential.
Two larger alternatives nearby
Shoppers who rely on the Dartford store will find broader ranges at:
- Primark, Bluewater (Greenhithe): large-format store with extensive womenswear, menswear, kids, home and beauty.
- Primark, Bexleyheath: town-centre site with a wide selection and regular stock refreshes.
Both locations feature bigger floorspace, wider sizes and more categories than Dartford, which helps explain why the smaller branch has lost footfall over time.
Key facts at a glance
| Store | Primark, The Orchards Shopping Centre, Dartford |
| Closure window | New year, exact date to be confirmed |
| Jobs affected | 53 employees in consultation |
| Reason | Extensive building repairs not financially viable |
| Nearest alternatives | Bluewater (Greenhithe); Bexleyheath |
| UK estate | More than 190 stores |
| Further closures | None announced |
53 colleagues face uncertainty; Primark says redeployment will be explored, and the store will keep trading over Christmas.
Why the building matters
Retailers often sign long leases and shoulder parts of the repair burden. When roofs, lifts, electrics or fire systems need big upgrades, costs can jump sharply. In older shopping centres, these works can run into seven figures and demand lengthy shutdowns. If a small-format unit already loses trade to nearby flagships, the payback on heavy capital spending looks weak.
Landlords usually split responsibilities for structural works from tenant fit-outs. Service charges can rise when centres require maintenance, and that feeds into trading decisions. If a store is underperforming and needs disruptive repairs, chains increasingly choose to consolidate into larger, more efficient sites close by.
A sign of shifting high street economics
Primark opened its first English store in 1974 and built a nationwide network that now exceeds 190 branches. The chain has avoided widespread closures in Britain for years, but the Dartford decision shows how local conditions can tip the balance. Shoppers still want low prices, yet they also gravitate to destination malls with parking, food courts and longer hours.
Other retailers are adjusting as well. JD Sports confirmed 13 UK shop closures over the past six months as customers tightened spending. Bank branches continue to disappear from town centres. These moves reflect energy bills, wages, business rates and the cost of maintaining ageing buildings, as well as changing travel and shopping habits.
Primark says no wider closure programme is planned in the UK, but the chain continues to review locations store by store.
Timeline and what happens next
The consultation process now takes centre stage. Managers and staff will discuss options, including transfers to other stores and, if necessary, redundancy terms. While those talks proceed, the Dartford branch keeps its doors open and stocks festive ranges.
- Now: consultation begins; the store trades as normal.
- December: Christmas shopping continues; updates promised when available.
- New year: final closure date confirmed; last trading day communicated locally.
- After closure: returns and exchanges handled at nearby Primark branches.
What local shoppers can do today
Plan your trip if you rely on Dartford for last-minute gifts. Check sizes early, keep receipts, and consider whether Bluewater or Bexleyheath stock the items you want. If you buy presents now, you can still exchange them after the holiday at either alternative store if the Dartford branch has already closed by the time you go back.
Advice for affected staff
Employees should review commuting times and costs to potential new stores before accepting redeployment. Ask for clarity on travel support, shift flexibility and training. If redundancy becomes likely, check statutory redundancy pay, accrued holiday pay and notice periods. Retail experience travels well: large-format stores value supervisors who can run busy fitting rooms, tills and stockrooms during peak hours.
What this tells you about value shopping in 2025
Discount-led fashion thrives in big, efficient sites where deliveries, stock density and staffing can scale up. That model struggles in smaller units when major repairs loom. For shoppers, that shift often brings larger ranges and better facilities a few miles away, but fewer options on traditional high streets.
If you live in Dartford, you still have two sizeable Primark choices nearby. Budget for transport and time, and use quieter midweek windows for returns. For families, it may be worth grouping errands—returns, schoolwear top-ups, homeware—to one trip to cut costs and save time. The retailer keeps its focus on price, but the map of where you buy may keep changing as landlords and chains weigh repair bills against footfall.
Feel for the 53 staff—does Primark offer travel stipends if people are redeployed to Bluewater or Bexleyheath? Commute costs add up, esp. on early shifts.