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The Centre (Livingston): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 55°53′02″N 3°30′51″W / 55.88389°N 3.51417°W / 55.88389; -3.51417
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{{Short description|Shopping centre in Livingston, Scotland}}
'''The Centre''' is the name of a shopping centre in [[Livingston, Scotland]]. Formerly known as 'Livingston Regional Centre' before becoming the more widely and recognized Land Securities owned 'Almondvale Shopping Centre'.
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''The Centre''' is the name of a shopping centre in [[Livingston, Scotland]]. Formerly known as 'Livingston Regional Centre' before becoming the more widely recognised 'Almondvale Shopping Centre'. It is (as of 2019) the 28th largest shopping centre in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shopping_centres_in_the_United_Kingdom_by_size|title=List of shopping centres in the United Kingdom by size - Wikipedia}}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=November 2019}}

It lies opposite the [[Livingston Designer Outlet]], Scotland's largest outlet mall. This makes the combined complex one of the UK's largest shopping districts with a combined 1.29 million square ft of retail space.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EYCO — Scheme |url=https://www.eyco.co.uk/scheme/The-Centre-Livingston/3656/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=www.eyco.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UK: leading outlet centers by size 2017 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/910948/leading-outlet-centers-by-size-united-kingdom-uk/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref>


==Origins==
==Origins==
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==Phase Two==
==Phase Two==
It was decided that a second phase would be built onto the existing frontage of the centre and would incorporate a purpose built supermarket and feature two twin towers one on the front entrance elevation and the other on the side entrance where the new supermarket would be. Phase two opened in 1995 and had bigger well known names such as Iceland, BHS, Vodafone and Boots to name but a few.
It was decided that a second phase would be built onto the existing frontage of the centre and would incorporate a purpose-built supermarket and feature two twin towers one on the front entrance elevation and the other on the side entrance where the new supermarket would be. Phase two opened in 1995 and had bigger well known names such as Iceland, Vodafone and Boots to name but a few.


==Phase Three==
==Phase Three==
The latest extension to the centre in 2008 sees a whole new concept for the now 30 year old centre, the new addon which was code named The Elements tied in what would be seen as many different elements to give the illusion and overall feel of being outside but yet still being indoors. To achieve this they built a very high glass roof to cover a very widened pathway which felt like a shopping precinct with grey slate like tiles to finish off the effect.
The latest extension to the centre in 2008 sees a whole new concept for the now 30-year-old centre, the new addon which was code named The Elements tied in what would be seen as many different elements to give the illusion and overall feel of being outside but yet still being indoors. To achieve this they built a very high glass roof to cover a very widened pathway which felt like a shopping precinct with grey slate like tiles to finish off the effect.


The Elements opened in 2008 and is home to names such as River Island, Next, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.
The Elements opened in 2008 and is home to names such as River Island, Next and Marks & Spencer.


==The Zones==
==The Zones==
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The Centre is beside Livingston Designer Outlet (formerly McArthur Glen Livingston).
The Centre is beside Livingston Designer Outlet (formerly McArthur Glen Livingston).


==Anchor Stores==
==Anchor stores==
The Centre contains three anchor stores - [[Marks & Spencer]], [[Primark]] and [[Debenhams]] - as well as many other smaller retail units, and the new mall - named Elements Square - has a transparent ETFE roof covering its four shopping ''avenues''. There is also an internal civic space known as the ''Wintergarden''.
The Centre contains two anchor stores - [[Marks & Spencer]], [[Primark]] - as well as many other smaller retail units, and the new mall - named Elements Square - has a transparent ETFE roof covering its four shopping ''avenues''. There is also an internal civic space known as the ''Wintergarden''.


==Other stores==
Elements Square is a unique development which provides a feeling of being outdoors whilst protecting its occupants from the vagaries of the weather. Its wide-open avenues and high roof bring a totally new feeling to shopping in Livingston.
Stores include: [[Marks & Spencer]], [[H.M.V.]], [[Waterstone's]], [[H&M]], [[Primark]], [[Asda]], [[WHSmith]], [[New Look (company)|New Look]], and [[Schuh]]


==Ownership transfer==
The Centre is like a small town, divided into five different zones: Elements Square, Wintergarden, The Avenue, Almondvale Walk and Almondvale Place.
In December 2014, The Centre's owners 'Land Securities' sold the shopping centre and associated retail parks to an investment firm 'HSBC Investments' marking the end of 30 plus years of ownership by the London-based management firm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/livingston-shopping-centre-sold-in-224m-deal.1418131367|title = Livingston shopping centre sold in £224m deal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-30394277|title = The Centre and Almondvale Retail Park sold for £224m|work = BBC News|date = 9 December 2014}}</ref>

The Centre is situated just off Junction 3 of the M8, between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

==Other Stores==
Below are just a few of the many stores, For a full updated list visit [http://www.shopthecentre.co.uk/shops the Store Finder]<br />
As of January 2014 ;

[[Marks & Spencer]], [[Debenhams]], [[H.M.V.]], [[Waterstone's]], [[Dorothy Perkins]], [[Next (clothing)|Next]], [[H&M]], [[Primark]], [[Asda]], [[WHSmith]], [[New Look (company)|New Look]], [[Argos]]

==End Of An Era==
In December 2014, The Centre's owners 'Land Securities' sold the shopping centre and associated retail parks to an investment firm marking the end of a momentous run of 30 plus years for the London based management firm.<ref>http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/livingston-shopping-centre-sold-in-224m-deal.1418131367</ref><ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-30394277</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Shopping centres in Scotland}}


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[[Category:Livingston, West Lothian]]
[[Category:Livingston, West Lothian]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in West Lothian]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in West Lothian]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in West Lothian]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in West Lothian]]

Latest revision as of 19:47, 15 December 2024

The Centre is the name of a shopping centre in Livingston, Scotland. Formerly known as 'Livingston Regional Centre' before becoming the more widely recognised 'Almondvale Shopping Centre'. It is (as of 2019) the 28th largest shopping centre in the UK.[1][circular reference]

It lies opposite the Livingston Designer Outlet, Scotland's largest outlet mall. This makes the combined complex one of the UK's largest shopping districts with a combined 1.29 million square ft of retail space.[2][3]

Origins

[edit]

The original centre was built in the 1970s by the now defunct Livingston Development Corporation or LDC and was home to smaller independent retailers such as Virgo a fashion store and Coda music up to the larger well known brand names such as WoolCo (which became the now defunct Woolworths) and FineFare (the equally defunct Gateway). The shopping centre was very dark and gave the appearances of an outside mall except it was roofed.

Through time modernizations were made to make it more appealing to shoppers and more upmarket, bringing in more up to date floor tiling, bright lighting and the centres' branding and logos on the walls.

Phase Two

[edit]

It was decided that a second phase would be built onto the existing frontage of the centre and would incorporate a purpose-built supermarket and feature two twin towers one on the front entrance elevation and the other on the side entrance where the new supermarket would be. Phase two opened in 1995 and had bigger well known names such as Iceland, Vodafone and Boots to name but a few.

Phase Three

[edit]

The latest extension to the centre in 2008 sees a whole new concept for the now 30-year-old centre, the new addon which was code named The Elements tied in what would be seen as many different elements to give the illusion and overall feel of being outside but yet still being indoors. To achieve this they built a very high glass roof to cover a very widened pathway which felt like a shopping precinct with grey slate like tiles to finish off the effect.

The Elements opened in 2008 and is home to names such as River Island, Next and Marks & Spencer.

The Zones

[edit]

The Centre is made up of 3 zones:-

  • Almondvale Walk (the original 1970s phase one of the shopping centre),
  • Almondvale Place (phase two which opened in 1995 and featured the two twin towers at each side of the building)
  • Elements Square, the Wintergarden and The Avenue (phase three or The Elements which was opened in 2008).

The Centre is beside Livingston Designer Outlet (formerly McArthur Glen Livingston).

Anchor stores

[edit]

The Centre contains two anchor stores - Marks & Spencer, Primark - as well as many other smaller retail units, and the new mall - named Elements Square - has a transparent ETFE roof covering its four shopping avenues. There is also an internal civic space known as the Wintergarden.

Other stores

[edit]

Stores include: Marks & Spencer, H.M.V., Waterstone's, H&M, Primark, Asda, WHSmith, New Look, and Schuh

Ownership transfer

[edit]

In December 2014, The Centre's owners 'Land Securities' sold the shopping centre and associated retail parks to an investment firm 'HSBC Investments' marking the end of 30 plus years of ownership by the London-based management firm.[4][5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "List of shopping centres in the United Kingdom by size - Wikipedia".
  2. ^ "EYCO — Scheme". www.eyco.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  3. ^ "UK: leading outlet centers by size 2017". Statista. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Livingston shopping centre sold in £224m deal".
  5. ^ "The Centre and Almondvale Retail Park sold for £224m". BBC News. 9 December 2014.
[edit]

55°53′02″N 3°30′51″W / 55.88389°N 3.51417°W / 55.88389; -3.51417