US fashion giant Forever 21 has signed its second deal for a UK store in Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre, which is likely to be its first to open here.

The retailer, which has more than 500 stores in the US, aims to open the 35,000 sq ft store by autumn but a source close to Forever 21 said it is still trying to acquire a central London store.

The source said the Bullring is “likely” to be the first UK store to open “at this particular point”, but that Forever 21 is still “on course” for a London flagship.

The source added that Forever 21 is looking at stores in the capital but is “not close” to signing anything yet.

“Forever 21 is very excited about the Bullring,” said the source. “Heads of terms are agreed, and it will open this fall hopefully.”

Forever 21 will likely go head to head with established fast-fashion retailers such as H&M and Primark when it arrives in the UK.

In December Retail Week revealed that Forever 21 had signed its first UK deal at Westfield Stratford, although it will not open until 2011.

The fashion retailer also wants stores in UK cities including Manchester, and Glasgow, as well as European centres such as Paris, Milan, Munich, Amsterdam, Vienna, Madrid and Barcelona.

Property agent Harper Dennis Hobbs acted for the retailer but declined to comment.