Primark has signed a 25-year deal for its Carlisle store – understood to be one of the company’s biggest deals in the UK.

The retail giant’s long-term plans for the city have been labelled a major boost for the economy.

The budget clothing company has signed a deal with the owners of the Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle Shopping Centre Ltd, in which Carlisle City Council owns a 23.66 per cent stake.

Property giant F&C Reit is the biggest partner.

Councillor Les Tickner, who is responsible for finance, governance and resources, said: “It’s understood by the council to be the biggest, one of the longest, contracts ever signed by Primark.”

He said the deal, which is also one of the biggest for the city council, was part of months of negotiations – including one year free rent – to bring Primark to Carlisle, and one that felt right for the time.

It means after 25 years the council will be more than £2 million better off than it would be had the money it invested in the deal sat in the bank.

“For the council it’s very important,” Mr Tickner continued, “but we’re there to act on behalf of the businesses and the people who live in Carlisle and it was one of the things that in 2012 we were hearing people say.

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“So it was one of the things that we were determined to make happen. Some people are not lovers of Primark, but for a lot of people it’s one of the few places they get new clothes.

“You just have to see for yourself if you get the train to Newcastle and come back on it, a lot of the people are carrying Primark bags. Now they don’t have to go to Newcastle they can buy them in Carlisle.

“Primark does tend to bring others stores along with it.”


David Jackson David Jackson, commercial manager of the Lanes Shopping Centre, described the deal with Primark as a “great signing”.

He said: “I can’t comment on the lease [length], but it’s great in terms of employment, and it will bring people to the city and bring in customers from across our catchment – some who in the past will have gone elsewhere because there was no Primark.

“Retailers know the Primark effect.

“We would hope that since we have now signed Primark that this area of the shopping centre will become more attractive to retailers who may want to relocate from elsewhere, or who may be new to the city and want to come because they can share in the extra footfall”.