Primark aiming to take over more than half of Pavilions

Primark bosses will create a four-floor store, subject to getting the green light from city planners.

The fashion chain, part of Associated British Foods, bought the High Street shopping centre in July for an undisclosed sum, but thought to be in the region of £60 million

It said then that it planned to create 448 jobs with its current city centre Primark store and its 430 staff relocating from New Street.

The new store would be three times bigger at 150,000sq ft and fill more than half of the 250,000sq ft city centre shops complex which originally opened in 1987.

The store is just a bit smaller than the Primark in Manchester's Trafford Centre, which is 155,000sq ft.

A planning application for the redevelopment scheme is due to be submitted to Birmingham City Council later this month.

If approval is given then the retail chain hopes to open its new store in spring 2018.

Primark said the scheme would give a new lease of life to the shopping mall.

It also includes a new pedestrian through-route during business hours to connect Moor Street to High Street.

A consultation event will be held on Thursday September 17 on the High Street level of the Pavilions from 8.30am to 4pm with members of the project team on hand to answer questions.

The plans can be seen online at www.NewPrimark.co.uk from Thursday as well.

People can express an interest in one of the new Primark jobs when submitting feedback on the plans.

Spokesman for the project team Nick Webb said: "We hope to hear from as many people as possible during the consultation.

"The Primark proposals offer a big opportunity for Birmingham city centre and we're keen to hear local thoughts before the planning application is finalised."

Some of the existing shops in the Pavilions will stay, but others will go to make room for the giant Primark, which will employ nearly 900 people.

The discount fashion chain now has more than 250 stores in the Uk, Ireland and Europe.