MORE than 150 retail jobs are being created in York's city centre as Primark completes a deal to move to the Coppergate Shopping Centre.

The signing of the lease completes the budget retailer's two-store strategy for York after it revealed in September last year it has signed a deal to move to Monks Cross.

Primark, which has been eyeing up a move to York for almost two years, is opening a 34,400 sq ft store in Coppergate, alongside a 100,000st ft store at Monks Cross.

Both units were previously occupied by Marks & Spencer, prior to the brand relocating to the new Vangarde Shopping Centre earlier next year.

Primark is yet to reveal planned opening dates, but said the Coppergate store will create 151 jobs in the city.

The city centre deal was completed by Mark Batten and Rob Lewis of PwC, who are acting administrators for Coppergate Shopping Centre's parent company LaSalle UK Ventures Property 8 S.A.R.L, after being appointed in June last year.

Commenting on the letting of Primark, Mark Batten, PwC partner and joint administrator, said: "We are delighted to have secured Primark as a new tenant for Coppergate Shopping Centre, which is a major coup for the City and will create a number of jobs.

"This is the latest of a number of lettings for Coppergate over the last six months, resulting in the centre being fully let and demonstrating the demand for prime real estate in the heart of York."

A spokeswoman said there had been inaccurate reports elsewhere, but Mr Batten said: "The shopping centre continues to trade as usual and indeed experienced a particularly successful festive period.

"We are continuing to review the asset management strategy although, at this time there is no immediate plan to bring Coppergate to the investment market."

Alongside the letting of the former Marks & Spencer unit to Primark, administrators have completed deals to bring Carluccio’s restaurant to the Centre at Fenwick’s, which also signed an agreement to open a further unit in the former Jane Norman store.

Leases are also in the process of being signed by a foreign exchange dealer and a "high-end patisserie brand", to take space as it becomes available in the coming months.