Primark Store Edinburgh, Princes Street shop design, Scotland retail building pictures, Scottish shopping

Primark Store Edinburgh : Princes Street Shop

Princes St Store, Scotland design by 3DReid architects

post updated 4 November 2023 ; 24 Jun 2010

Primark Lodges Official Princes Street Store Plans, Shaped by Public Feedback

Fashion retailer Primark has reached a crucial milestone in its plans to create a flagship store on Scotland’s most famous shopping street.

Primark Store Princes Street Edinburgh picture from the architects practice

Primark Edinburgh Store Proposal

A detailed planning application has now been submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council for a new flagship store on Princes Street.

The Primark store plans have been influenced by comments and feedback gathered during an extensive three month public consultation exercise.

The retailer is applying to open a 75,000 sq ft outlet on the site of the former Marks & Spencer building at 91-93 Princes Street – which would provide the company with its 18th store in Scotland, creating hundreds of construction and retail jobs.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, Convener for Economic Development, said: “With a planning applications having now been submitted for consideration, I look forward to the development progressing to the next stage. Like us, Primark recognise the tremendous potential of Princes Street as a shopping destination and I am delighted that, in order to make the very most of this opportunity, they took the time to consult so widely with the public.

Not only will this development provide a welcome boost to our retail offering but it will also create a great many jobs during these difficult times. We are continuing to work closely with Primark to help them realise their ambitions to open a flagship store here in the centre of Scotland’s Capital.”

A spokesman for Primark added: “We have been keen to open a flagship store in Edinburgh for some time, so it is very pleasing to see this development taking the next step towards becoming a reality. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who responded during the public consultation and made their views about the building known on our website.

There is a good level of support for the building but we have also taken on board a number of comments and shaped our final proposals according to this feedback.”

Primark Store Edinburgh image from the architects office

Primark Store Edinburgh Princes Street

Primark worked with city architect 3DReid to come up with a design which helps fulfil the ‘string of pearls’ concept for Princes Street, set out in a comprehensive Development Framework.

The Primark store concept divides the historic street into blocks each with a distinctive mix of retail, leisure and cultural activities that will help to reinforce the unique character and identity of each and help to revive the fortunes of Princes Street as a prime shopping destination.

3DReid were also instrumental in gathering views and feedback re the Primark store design from heritage bodies, local businesses and members of the public during the extensive consultation exercise.

A spokesman for 3DReid, said: “With new shop fronts to both Princes Street and Rose Street, the development will promote footfall between the two. The 75,000sqft building has been designed to respect the scale and character of a valuable World Heritage Site and the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Area, as well as provide the city with a much-needed catalyst for the retail-led regeneration of Princes Street.

We have looked holistically at the development to create a more coherent structure to this block on Princes Street, which restores the historic footprint of the site. For the first time, the public will now have access to the upper levels of the building, which will command spectacular and iconic views across Waverley Valley to Edinburgh Castle.”

The planning application for the new Primark building on Princes Street in central Edinburgh is expected to be discussed by the council’s planning committee later this summer.

Primark expects to open the store in Autumn/Winter 2011, slightly later than anticipated due to the complexity of such an exciting project.

Primark currently has 198 stores including 139 stores in the UK with its other stores across Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany and Belgium.

Primark Edinburgh Store images / information issued on behalf of Primark by Holyrood Partnership

Edinburgh Shops