The long-awaited new Primark store in Norwich is to open before Christmas, it has been confirmed, as the building starts to take shape.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich's new Primark taking shape on Haymarket. Pic: ArchantNorwich's new Primark taking shape on Haymarket. Pic: Archant

The firm is keeping tight-lipped over the exact opening date but it is believed to be on Thursday, December 12, just in time for the festive rush.

A spokeswoman from the Primark headquarters in Dublin said: "The store is due to open before Christmas and press will be invited to view the store ahead of opening. I will share more details in due course."

The store on Norwich's Haymarket closed in April 2018, opening in a temporary venue in St Stephens' Street with a date for the new store re-opening pencilled in for summer 2019.

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Eastern Daily Press: Norwich's new Primark taking shape on Haymarket. Pic: ArchantNorwich's new Primark taking shape on Haymarket. Pic: Archant

But the difficulty of the location for work on the site, sandwiched tightly between buildings, the fact it's in a historic area with some ancient foundations close by and the sheer scale of the build have led to delays.

Builders RG Carter, in a statement on its website, said: "The site in the centre of Norwich on the Haymarket is a two-year project incorporating the build of extended footage into now demolished retail outlets adjacent to Primark, full refurbishment and new design onto two existing trading floors, raising the roof and establishing a new third trading floor.

"This is our first venture with Primark and promises to be both a challenging and exciting period building both a new store and new relationships."

The site has been shrouded in scaffolding for months but this week the new building was fast taking shape with the frontage in both brickwork and steel with some wide modern windows on the Haymarket side.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich's Primark taking shape on Haymarket. Pic: ArchantNorwich's Primark taking shape on Haymarket. Pic: Archant

The new store comes after Primark opened its biggest shop in the world, in Birmingham, earlier this year, spread over five floors and with a beauty studio, barbers and three dining experiences including a Disney-themed cafe.

Unusually, the firm does not sell online and recently advised customers to be wary of being overcharged for its products online. Earlier this year, the retailer, owned by Associated British Foods, saw adjusted operating profit jump 25% to £426m with UK sales up 2.3%.

Eastern Daily Press: The Beauty Studio during the opening of the world's biggest Primark store in Birmingham. Pic: Aaron Chown/PA WireThe Beauty Studio during the opening of the world's biggest Primark store in Birmingham. Pic: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Eastern Daily Press: The world's biggest Primark store in Birmingham. Pic; PAThe world's biggest Primark store in Birmingham. Pic; PA