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Primark is to reopen in Belfast on December 8, the company has announced.

The firm has always said it intended to get back to trading in the city as soon as it could after the devastating fire which ripped through the iconic building.

Belfast Live revealed in October that the retailer had done a deal to buy Fountain House on Donegall Place, meaning New Look would have to look for new premises.

Now it appears they will not be moving there until Spring.

On December 8, however, they will reopen in Commonwealth House at the back of Bank Buildings.

A Primark spokesperson said: "Primark is committed to Belfast and we announced recently that we plan to open a store in Commonwealth House in December.

"In addition, we are hoping to open a new store in Fountain House in Spring 2019. We will share more details in due course."

They later confirmed the store will re-open on December 8.

(Image: Photopress)

SDLP Councillor Tim Attwood has welcomed the news that Primark will soon reopen.

He said: "The SDLP are delighted that Primark will begin trading again in the mouth of the Christmas period.

"This news is an extremely welcome development for the city and especially for the Primark staff who have been commuting to other stores across Northern Ireland since the blaze destroyed the Bank Buildings, which was home to Primark’s flagship Belfast store, at the end of August.

"Belfast City Council will continue to support businesses in the city centre after the devastation caused by the Primark blaze."

A Primark spokesman said in October: "Following the devastating fire at Bank Buildings, it has always been Primark’s intention to be back up and trading in Belfast as soon as possible, whilst also doing everything we can to support the wider business community in the City.

"We have been working hard to identify suitable premises and can confirm that we are currently involved in commercial discussions in relation to Fountain House, Donegall Place.

"We are also still assessing the possibility of trading from Commonwealth House, Castle Street. We will share further details as soon as possible."

Now the decision has been made and Belfast City Council has welcomed the news.

A council spokesperson said: "We have been aware of Primark’s plans to reopen in the city centre as soon as possible, and welcome their ongoing commitment to Belfast city centre. We welcome in particular the fact that Commonwealth House will be open before Christmas to drive footfall."

Meanwhile, Belfast City Council has also given Primark the green light to start work at Bank Buildings.

The top two floors of burned out Bank Buildings will be removed brick-by-brick before work can begin on strengthening the facade.

Belfast city centre was left like a ghost town when the Primark's NI flagship caught fire in August.

It is hoped this work will reduce the cordon cutting in the city into cul-de-sacs and restore pedestrian access between Royal Avenue and Donegall Place.

(Image: Alan Lewis)

Councillor Matt Garrett, chairman of the Council’s Planning Committee, said at the time: "I'm pleased that we have been able to give the green light to this application and work can now get underway with the aim of reducing the cordon as soon as possible, and as soon as it is safe to do so.

"The Committee has asked for an undertaking from Primark that it will begin work as soon as practically possible.

(Image: Alan Lewis)

"There is a real urgency for businesses, both inside and outside the cordon, to ensure their economic resilience in the run-up to Christmas and beyond, so it’s vital that Primark moves forward and ensures the required works are completed as soon as possible."

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