Primark to shut Dartford store after Christmas: will 53 jobs and trips really move to Bluewater?

Shoppers in Dartford face an unexpected shake-up as repair bills, rival sites and tight margins converge on a familiar high-street name.

Primark has confirmed plans to close its town-centre branch at The Orchards Shopping Centre in the new year, citing extensive building repairs and the pull of nearby larger stores. The retailer expects trading to continue through the festive period, with the shuttering likely to follow after Christmas.

What is happening in Dartford

The budget fashion chain intends to wind down its Dartford store, marking its first proposed UK branch closure in more than ten years. No final date has been announced. The company says the building requires significant work that would demand an investment it cannot justify at this location.

Primark plans to close its Dartford store after Christmas, pointing to extensive repair costs and strong nearby alternatives.

Shoppers will still find the full Primark experience at two established sites: Bluewater in Greenhithe and The Broadway in Bexleyheath. Both house wider ranges and have drawn trade away from the smaller Dartford unit.

Why Primark says the store no longer stacks up

Executives point to a mix of building condition, store size and local competition. The numbers matter. Large-format branches nearby offer deeper ranges and more tills, which shifts footfall. A costly structural upgrade at a smaller unit becomes hard to defend when those larger stores sit a short journey away.

Significant repair work and proximity to two bigger Primark stores have made investment in the Dartford unit unviable.

• Cost pressure: extensive repairs required at The Orchards unit.
• Retail cannibalisation: Bluewater and Bexleyheath capture demand for wider ranges.
• Space constraints: smaller shopfloor limits stock, queues and visual merchandising.
• Post-Christmas timing: trading continues through December before the expected closure window.

What it means for you

The store remains open for now, so festive shopping goes ahead as normal. After Christmas, expect a wind-down period and service changes such as reduced deliveries and limited replenishment. The retailer has promised clear communication as timelines firm up.

The Dartford store stays open for Christmas; closure is expected in the new year with updates to follow.

Key facts at a glance

• Location: The Orchards Shopping Centre, Dartford town centre.
• Status: proposed closure in the new year; no exact date confirmed.
• Reason: extensive repairs and strong nearby Primark alternatives.
• Colleagues: 53 jobs affected; redeployment options to be considered.
• Nearby stores: Bluewater (Greenhithe) and Bexleyheath.

Nearby alternatives for shoppers

Two Primark branches within reach continue to trade with larger ranges and more space. For many customers, these locations already serve as the main destination for bigger hauls and seasonal launches.

Impact on The Orchards and the high street

Losing a well-known anchor hurts visibility for a shopping centre. Primark’s windows generate casual visits, which feed nearby cafés and service operators. The Orchards will need a plan for the unit: either a single major tenant or a subdivision to attract multiple brands. The trend across many town centres points to flexible layouts, pop-up leases and mixed-use concepts to keep footfall steady.

Dartford shoppers have already shifted some trips to Bluewater’s destination retail mix. That dynamic predates this decision and continues to weigh on smaller sites. The Primark move may prompt landlords to refresh the tenant mix, push experiential offers or bring in value-led home and discount operators to plug the gap.

What happens to staff

Fifty-three employees work at the Dartford branch. Primark says it will support colleagues and look at redeployment where roles exist in nearby stores. That could include transfers to Bluewater or Bexleyheath, subject to vacancies and personal circumstances.

Fifty-three colleagues face consultation, with redeployment considered where possible across nearby stores.

Employees can expect a structured consultation process. In the UK, larger site changes often involve collective consultation when a business proposes to dismiss 20 or more employees within a 90-day period at one location. That process sets minimum timeframes and requires the company to consider ways to reduce job losses, mitigate impacts and match people to open roles.

• Ask about redeployment paths, training and travel support to other branches.
• Check how length of service affects notice periods and redundancy pay.
• Keep written records of meetings and outcomes during consultation.

What shoppers should know right now

Plan Christmas visits early and keep receipts for gifts. If returns or exchanges are needed after the holiday period, staff will direct customers to active branches once the Dartford unit winds down. Gift cards remain valid across the estate, so they can be used at Bluewater and Bexleyheath.

Primark’s model still focuses on in-store value rather than full online shopping. Stock levels vary by site, so checking availability pages and visiting during quieter hours can save time. Weekday mornings usually bring smoother queues and better product choice.

The bigger picture

This decision underlines two forces reshaping British retail. First, property costs and repairs can tilt the balance for smaller town-centre units. Second, regional destination malls with bigger box formats concentrate demand by offering scale, parking and food options. When a unit requires heavy capital, brands will compare it against the trade they can absorb at nearby larger stores.

For Dartford, the next chapter depends on how The Orchards adapts. A fresh anchor, a cluster of value players, or a split of the space into smaller units could each work. The town’s transport links and growing population provide a base for retail recovery if the mix stays relevant and affordable.

For workers, keep an eye on internal postings at Bluewater and Bexleyheath. Ask managers about travel allowances, shift patterns and cross-training that can make a transfer workable. For households watching costs, look for multi-buy offers and seasonal markdowns in January, when larger branches clear winter stock and bring in early spring ranges.