Primark to close Rotherham town centre store

The discount clothes brand confirmed yesterday that its High Street store will shut “within the next year” and a new branch will open in the former BHS unit at Parkgate.

A Primark spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that Primark will be relocating from Rotherham town centre to Parkgate and we are very excited by the relocation.

“All staff at the High Street branch will transfer to Parkgate and around 40 new jobs will be created at the new store.”

The announcement follows the closure of the WH Smith branch just round the corner in College Street last June and is the latest in a long line of high-profile departures including Marks and Spencer, which moved to Parkgate in 2004.

But moving to Parkgate has not always worked out for retailers, as DIY giant B&Q shut its store near the retail park last year — seven years after moving from Greasbrough Street.

Primark’s move will take place “either at the very end of this year or the beginning of next year,” the spokeswoman added.