A PRIMARK store could come to York next year on the site of Littlewoods in Parliament Street, it was revealed today.

The chain claims to offer fashionable, quality merchandise at "sensible" prices.

The Littlewoods in York, which has 25 staff, was one of 120 of the retail branches bought by Primark's parent company, Associated British Foods (ABF), from tycoons Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, in a £409 million deal sealed last month.

Now ABF is assessing its new acquisitions, York's among them, to see which will make good Primark stores and which would be more profitable let to other retailers.

An ABF spokesman said it would decide the future of the Parliament Street site in March next year and that there was no guarantee the space would become a Primark store.

One consideration would be whether it would clash with one of the existing 122 Primarks already established.

In York, however, it would have no rivals, although the premises are on a short-term lease.

It remained unclear whether or how many jobs will be lost at York's Littlewoods, said the ABF spokesman. "We have taken on Hillco, the same retail restructuring specialist that was used to wind down Allders.

"They will continue to trade as Littlewoods, but will run the store down for the handover next March."

If a Primark did emerge there, then staff who knew the area would be sought. "They will be far more valuable than fresh starters who will need training," said the spokesman.

A Primark in York would add to the growing list of big-name stores which have recently targeted the city.

These include a new Jaeger in Petergate, tea and coffee specialists Whittard of Chelsea in Stonegate and one of Topshop's biggest branches in the North is taking over the Coppergate site of the ill-fated Allders store.

Another spate of big retail names, including Zara and H&M, is expected to take space in the new Spurriergate development early next year after its completion. Adam Sinclair, chairman of York Business Pride, said: "It is heartening that even in a difficult retail climate new brands are continuing to show interest in the city. A Primark would adequately fill a void left by Littlewoods in Parliament Street."

Updated: 09:55 Thursday, August 04, 2005