Kingdom Shopping Centre: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Unicorn Square.jpg|thumb|150px| Unicorn Square, built in the 1980s]] |
[[Image:Unicorn Square.jpg|thumb|150px| Unicorn Square, built in the 1980s]] |
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In 1982 a third phase was built extending the centre further west. The domed Unicorn Square was the principal feature of the third phase and Unicorn House, an office block with distinctive reflective glass, was built to the north of the development. A [[Fine Fare]] supermarket (now New Look, [[Toytown Stores|Toytown]] and [[OneBelow|One Below]]) anchored the third phase of the shopping centre when it opened.<ref name="A History of Glenrothes" /><ref name="A New Town's Heritage, Glenrothes 1948-1995" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/1982-fifty-years-ago-fine-fare-opened-a-major-new-supermarket-in-glenrothes-3572876|title=1982: Fifty years ago Fine Fare opened a major new supermarket in Glenrothes|work= www.fifetoday.co.uk|date=17 February 2022|accessdate=17 February 2022}}</ref> |
In 1982 a third phase was built extending the centre further west. The domed Unicorn Square was the principal feature of the third phase and Unicorn House, an office block with distinctive reflective glass, was built to the north of the development. A [[Fine Fare]] supermarket (now sub-divided into New Look, [[Toytown Stores|Toytown]] and [[OneBelow|One Below]] outlets) anchored the third phase of the shopping centre when it opened.<ref name="A History of Glenrothes" /><ref name="A New Town's Heritage, Glenrothes 1948-1995" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/1982-fifty-years-ago-fine-fare-opened-a-major-new-supermarket-in-glenrothes-3572876|title=1982: Fifty years ago Fine Fare opened a major new supermarket in Glenrothes|work= www.fifetoday.co.uk|date=17 February 2022|accessdate=17 February 2022}}</ref> |
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===Phase 4=== |
===Phase 4=== |
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Revision as of 10:16, 2 March 2023
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| Location | Glenrothes, Fife and Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 56°11′46″N 3°10′22″W / 56.19609°N 3.17273°W |
| Address | Glenrothes Town Centre |
| Opening date | 1963 |
| Developer | Neale House / Glenrothes Development Corporation |
| Owner | Mars Pension Trustees Ltd[1] |
| No. of stores and services | 68 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 1 |
| Total retail floor area | 40,000 m2 (430,000 sq ft) |
| Parking | 1,500 |
| Website | kingdomshoppingcentre |
The Kingdom Centre is the main shopping destination in Glenrothes, located in the town centre. It is the largest indoor shopping centre in Fife and is one of the largest single-level indoor shopping centres in Scotland with around 40,000 m2 (430,000 sq ft) of (gross) floorspace.[2]
The shopping centre has some of the highest levels of footfall in Fife and currently contains over 100 shop units as well as a variety of cafes, the town's central library and the Rothes Halls - the town's theatre and civic centre.[2] Brand stores in the Kingdom Centre include Boots, CEX, Clarks, Game, Home Bargains, Iceland, JD Sports, New Look, Sports Direct, Superdrug, Toytown, Trespass and WHSmith. The centre also has a wide selection of smaller independent retailers, food and drink outlets, banks, building societies and other service operators.
A bingo hall, cinema and ten pin bowling alley sit adjacent to the shopping complex. Glenrothes bus station is located next to the southeast end of the centre. An M&S Foodhall, an Iceland Food Warehouse, and a parade of shops and restaurants were completed in early 2019 sitting adjacent to the shopping centre at The Henge Retail and Leisure Park.[3][4] Starbucks and Burger King also opened outlets on North Street in 2021.[5]
History
Phase 1
Glenrothes town centre was originally to be built on the same principles of the English new towns such as Stevenage and Bracknell. The centre would comprise a series of shopping streets and squares separated from traffic. The first phase of the Kingdom Centre was built as a large modern pedestrian square. A three-storey glazed roof and a modern fountain were incorporated as features in the design.[6] The Golden Acorn Hotel, the town's Post Office and a bus turning circle were all included as part of the development. A Co-Op Department store opened in 1964 at the eastern entrance to the square and a town clock was built as a feature adjacent to the store.[7][8] [9]
Phase 2
The design of the first phase had a number of problems, including a leaking glass roof on the main square, vandalising of the public fountain and experiencing wind tunnel effects due to open and exposed entrances to the square. In 1976 a decision was taken to remove the glazed roof and the fountain and roof over the square at shop fascia height creating an internalised space. The shopping centre was also extended west to the point where Falkland Square is now. A Woolworths store (now Home Bargains) was built to anchor the west end of the centre. A Presto supermarket (latterly Safeway and then Dunnes Stores) and the New Glenrothes House office block were built as later additions to the second phase.[7][8]
Phase 3
In 1982 a third phase was built extending the centre further west. The domed Unicorn Square was the principal feature of the third phase and Unicorn House, an office block with distinctive reflective glass, was built to the north of the development. A Fine Fare supermarket (now sub-divided into New Look, Toytown and One Below outlets) anchored the third phase of the shopping centre when it opened.[7][8][10]
Phase 4
In 1993, with the winding up of the Glenrothes Development Corporation (GDC) on the horizon, a fourth phase was built. This was partially funded with a central government grant to provide any last major projects for the new town. The fourth phase incorporated the Rothes Halls, a multi-purpose community facility with a café, theatre, library and conference facilities.[7][8][9]
A major feature of the fourth phase is Rothes Square complete with a pyramid-shaped glass roof, a hanging triangular clock, circular feature floor design and a mock "alfresco" style café. A Somerfield supermarket (latterly a Co-op but currently vacant) anchored the fourth phase of the centre when it first opened.[7][8][9]
Future proposals
A range of development projects are proposed to regenerate the town centre steered by a masterplan that was approved by the Glenrothes Area Committee in March 2021. This seeks to address a variety of negative trends including addressing the loss of shops and a halving of office floorspace since the year 2000. Celebrating the unique legacy of public art bequeathed to the town, introducing new business opportunities outside of the Kingdom Shopping Centre, creating new public spaces, including a new town square, and supporting an enhanced economy are also identified in the masterplan.[11][12] This supersedes an earlier Glenrothes town centre action plan that was approved at Glenrothes Area Committee in 2014.[13][14] Older parts of the Kingdom Shopping Centre at Albany Gate are proposed to be demolished.[15][16]
References and notes
- ^ "New owners for Kingdom Centre". Fife Free Press. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Glenrothes Town Centre Profile" (PDF). Fife Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Concept drawing shows new M&S at heart of new look Glenrothes town centre". The Courier. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ "Glenrothes MSP Welcomes New Marks & Spencer Store". Jenny Gilruth MSP. 8 February 2019.
- ^ "Two new drive-thru restaurants planned for Fife town". www.fifetoday.co.uk. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ "12 pictures showing how the Kingdom Centre in Glenrothes was built – and the shops within it". Fife Free Press. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Ferguson, Keith (1982). A History of Glenrothes.
- ^ a b c d e Ferguson, Keith (1996). A New Town's Heritage, Glenrothes 1948–1995.
- ^ a b c Cowling, David (1997). An Essay for Today- The Scottish New Towns 1947–1997.
- ^ "1982: Fifty years ago Fine Fare opened a major new supermarket in Glenrothes". www.fifetoday.co.uk. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Neil Henderson (21 March 2021). "Glenrothes Masterplan: First glimpse of how town could transform over next decade". The Courier. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Glenrothes Town Centre Masterplan – Report to Glenrothes Area Committee by the Head of Business and Employability" (PDF). Fife Council. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Glenrothes Town Centre Action Plan Update – Joint report to Glenrothes Area Committee by the Head of Enterprise, Planning & Protective Services and Senior Manager (Policy, Communications & Area Management),Corporate Services pp17-33". Fife Council. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ Neil Henderson (12 March 2014). "Update on Glenrothes town centre regeneration plan". Fife Today / Glenrothes Gazette. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ Neil Henderson (24 February 2016). "Kingdom Centre Co-op demolition will create 'huge potential'". Fife Today / Glenrothes Gazette. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ "Councillor almost ready for 'dance of happiness' as start date given for Glenrothes redevelopment". The Courier. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
