Primark secures former Debenhams site for new 29,000 sq ft Kent store

Primark has confirmed that it will open a seventh store in Kent at County Square shopping centre, taking over around 29,000 sq ft of space in the second half of 2027.

The store will occupy the former Debenhams and Select units, which are to be merged into a single trading space spanning almost half of the centre's upper oval.

The building work that will see both unis come together is meant to begin very soon, although an exact launch date has not yet been confirmed yet. 

The store will carry Primark's fashion, kidswear, beauty, lifestyle and home ranges, and will include Click & Collect.

The Debenhams unit, which formed the centre's former flagship store, has been empty since January 2020.

Select closed four years later. County Square has also lost River Island, Peacocks, Claire's and The Body Shop in recent years.

Primark's arrival will make it the retailer's seventh store in Kent, joining branches in Canterbury, Folkestone, Westwood Cross, Tunbridge Wells, Chatham and Gravesend. At County Square, it will sit alongside more than 45 existing stores, including New Look and Next.

Kari Rodgers, Primark's UK Retail Director, said: "We know there's been a lot of demand for us to bring Primark to Ashford, so we're pleased to confirm plans to open in County Square later next year. With the demand for great value clothing higher than ever, we're looking forward to bringing our offer to the town and becoming part of the local community."

County Square centre manager Stacey Bell said the opening would broaden the centre's retail mix and draw shoppers from a wider catchment. 

Local demand for a Primark in Ashford has been vocal. In a 2024 survey of 1,200 residents conducted by the then-local MP, a third of respondents named Primark as the shop they most wanted to see open in the town.