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Primark, one of the UK's leading high street brands, has revealed it will be closing a store for the first time in over a decade. The retail giant announced that its Dartford branch, located in The Orchards Shopping Centre, is set to shut down after Christmas , reports MirrorOnline. With more than 190 stores nationwide, Primark is a go-to destination for budget-friendly fashion, homeware and beauty products. READ MORE: Major update on Poundland store future after 57 branches close Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join But, the Dartford outlet is due to permanently close its doors post-Christmas, with no final closure date specified yet. A spokesperson linked the decision to the poor state of the building and the hefty expenses associated with bringing it up to par. Philippa Nibbs, Primark 's director of sales for the South and South East, said: "Following careful consideration, we're proposing to close our Dartford store in the new year." She continued: "This proposal has been informed by the significant and extensive repair work the building requires. "Given its close proximity to two other Primark stores, the level of investment it needs simply isn't viable." The company assured that the store will continue to operate for now, with further updates to be provided when available. Employees at the Dartford branch have been notified, and a consultation period is currently in progress. The retailer pledged to explore options to support the store's 53 staff members, including potential redeployment opportunities. Primark also expressed gratitude to its customers for their patronage and acknowledged that the closure would be a let down for the local community. Despite Dartford losing its store, two larger Primark branches are situated nearby. One is nestled in the Bluewater shopping centre in Greenhithe, and the other resides in Bexleyheath. The firm stated that both locations offer a broad range of products and have influenced footfall at the smaller Dartford branch. Primark first opened its doors in England in 1974 and has since grown to become one of the UK's leading retailers. Despite the Dartford closure, the company hasn't revealed any additional plans to close stores across Britain.
