Primark given go-ahead for capital

Bargain hunters have long bemoaned the lack of a Primark store in Scotland's capital, with the city having struggled to provide a suitable site for the industry giant over the last decade.

But work on the long-awaited Princes Street store - which has been dogged by delays and is already two years behind schedule - will finally get under way within months after the clothing chain cleared a final planning hurdle yesterday.

Councillors heralded the move as the most significant boost for the retail sector in the city centre since Harvey Nichols decided to open a store on St Andrew Square in 2002.

Primark's arrival on Princes Street, which is now pencilled in for the 2011 festive season - five months later than had been expected - is set to be the most significant arrival on the thoroughfare since Urban Outfitters opened its second Scottish store last year.

Primark already boasts 18 stores across Scotland, including four within Glasgow alone.

Former Lord Provost Eric Milligan, a member of the city's planning committee, said: "This is possibly the most exciting news for Princes Street for a generation. This is just as important as the arrival of Harvey Nichols in St Andrew Square, and will attract more shoppers into the centre of the city."

Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, added: "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.

"Like us, Primark recognises the tremendous potential of Princes Street as a shopping destination and I look forward to the development progressing to the next stage."

Tessa Hartman, founder of the Scottish Fashion Awards, said: "Edinburgh's retail sector has really struggled with the impact of the tramworks and needs to attract major high street retailers.

"You have got to remember the pulling power of a retailer like Primark and the footfall they will attract to Princes Street. Retailers operating at the lower end of the market have been taking trade away from the middle market because of the recession."

Further boosts for Princes Street are expected with the opening of two new budget hotels, EasyHotel and Premier Inn, over the next few months.

Primark is known for selling clothes at the budget end of the market. The success of the company, which has its headquarters in Ireland, is based on sourcing its supply cheaply and the fast turnaround of stock in stores.

A spokesman for Primark said: "We are delighted our plans for a flagship store on Princes Street have been approved.

"Months of planning and public consultation have gone into creating the final design brief for this building and we are looking forward to turning these plans into a reality.

"There is great demand for a Primark store in Edinburgh and we expect this decision to approve our flagship store in the heart of the capital will be welcomed by shoppers and retailers alike."

Primark's store search:

PRIMARK has been linked with opening a store on Princes Street for more than ten years, but has been thwarted by the lack of suitable sites.

H&M swooped to secure the last major site to come onto the market in 2002, before Primark snapped up a former M&S store at 91 Princes Street in 2008.

However, it delayed its plans after deciding to open a bigger store than originally envisaged.

The firm has had to agree to strict planning conditions, including paying a 150,000 "tram tax", and giving the council 340,000 towards public improvements in Rose Street and 290,000 for "air rights" because part of its site cuts through air space owned by the local authority.