The Mercat Shopping Centre

Infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = The Mercat Shopping Centre


image width =
caption = High Street Entrance
location = Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
address = Management Offices, High Street
coordinates =
opening_date = 1972
1983 (extension)
developer = Michael Laird & Partners (extension)
manager =
owner = City Site Estates
architect =
number_of_stores = 63
number_of_anchors = 3
floor_area = 20,000 square metres (230,000 square feet)
parking =
website =
footnotes =

The Mercat Shopping Centre is located in Kirkcaldy, the largest town in Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom. The Mercat has three anchor stores; Marks and Spencer, Bhs and TK Maxx. The Mercat - including surrounding areas - accounts for at least 30% of all the floorspace in Kirkcaldy town centre, which in total is convert|46000|m2|sqft|sing=on and providing as much as 200 shops, making Kirkcaldy the largest shopping area in Fife.cite book
title = Town Centre Statistic Survey
publisher = Fife Council
year = December 2002] The shopping centre was built in two phases between 1972 and 1981-83 with a refurbishment completed in 1997. [http://www.csrs.ac.uk/Datasets/Scotland_ShoppingCentres.pdf] A prospal to extend the shopping centre for a third phase is pending.

The site has been owned by City Site Estates since 2005 after being deposed of by GA Capital who bought over previous owners, Haslemere Estates Management Ltd. [ [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/Where-now-for-40m-town.980206.jp Where now for £40m town plaza - Fife Today ] ]

History

Kirkcaldy Town council pondered a controversial redevelopment of Kirkcaldy town centre in January 1964, which was only passed by a narrow margin, after a fierce public inquiry. A plot of land situated between the High Street and the Esplanade was purchased in April 1964 for demolition as the new site of the shopping centre. [ "Kirkcaldy's history" "Fife Free Press" [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=17700] Retrieved on 22 June 2008 ] Four Streets consisting of Market, Cowie, Rose and Thistle were all lost. [ Salmond, Catherine (2007) "Fighting for the forgotten streets of old Kirkcaldy" "Fife Free Press" [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/Fighting-for-the-forgotten-streets.2959206.jp] ]

First Phase

Construction of the shopping centre was supposed to commence building work in Autumn 1967, but the project was hindered until the early 1970s. [ "Kirkcaldy's history" "Fife Free Press" [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=17700] Retrieved on 14 July 2008 ] Nonetheless, work finally began on the first phase of The Mercat in 1971 - which effectively took out some buildings in the high street from numbers 94-112 including the birth place of Adam Smith. cite book
author = Kirkcaldy Civic Society
title = High Street: Port Brae to Nicol Street, 7th edition
year = 2007
isbn = 0946294240] This was to contain initially 29 units, a major department store and one multi-storey car park - for completion in 1972. [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=17701 Fife Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More ] ]

Second Phase

The success of the Mercat, prompted an extension which was given the green light in 1978. [ "Kirkcaldy's history" "Fife Free Press" [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?] Retrieved on 22 June 2008 ] The extension dubbed "Mercat II" was built, alongside a second multi-storey car park, by Michael Laird and Partners between 1981 and 1983. The Car Park, despite only been two storey was known for presenting a deep roof, identical dormers and separated wrought-iron inserts on the wall. cite book
last = Pride
first = Glen L.
title = Kingdom of Fife, 2nd edition
published = The Rutland Press
year = 1999
isbn = 1873190492 ] Although this did prompt anguish over the lack of empty spaces in the new extension, since it was now being felt that there were now too many shops for the capacity of Kirkcaldy Town Centre.

Third Phase proposal

A second extension for the Mercat is being penned to occur at the earliest opportunity if granted by Fife Council. This would result in either the demolition of both The Mercat and Thistle Street Car Parks so the centre can expand over the site or a possible refurbishment. This could significantly boost Kirkcaldy's current shopping facilities. [ (2007) "A New Cinema in Heart of Town" "Fife Free Press" [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/fife-free-press-news/A-NEW-CINEMA-IN-HEART.2698164.jp] Retrieved on 22 June 2008] [ "Kirkcaldy Town Centre Future Plans" "Kirkcaldy Renaissance" [http://www.kirkcaldyrenaissance.co.uk/news_cinema.htm] Retrieved on 22 June 2008 ]

References