- Kingsgate Centre
Infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Kingsgate Shopping Centre
|thumb|Kingsgate Shopping Centre Logo, Changed Recently
image width =
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location =Dunfermline ,Fife ,Scotland
address =
coordinates =
opening_date = 1985
2008 (extension)
developer = Erne Ltd
Balfour kilpatrick (extension only)
manager =
owner = Terra Firma
architect = Keppie
number_of_stores =
number_of_anchors = 2
floor_area = 35,000 m²
parking = 711
website = www.kingsgate-dunfermline.com
footnotes =The Kingsgate Centre is an indoor shopping centre located in the town centre of
Dunfermline ,Fife ,Scotland .Marks and Spencer andDebenhams anchor the main entrances to the shopping centre. [http://www.kingsgateonline.co.uk/index.php?pg=retailers] The Kingsgate has recently been and extended and has undergone significant refurbishment. The centre has a three-storey car park on the roof and contains 74 retail units over two floors [http://listings-scotland.eur.cushwake.com/dynamic/pdf/29659/29659.pdf] .History
Dunfermline District council gave the green light to a new shopping centre to be built in the James Street area in 1983 by the developer, Erne Ltd. The old Dunfermline Sheriff Court(which dated back to 1809) was purchased and then sold onto arrowcroft for conversion as the site for the small 36 unit led shopping centre. [http://www.dunfermlinepress.co.uk/bygone_dunfermline/years/1976_1986.php?bygone_id=6 :: Dunfermline Press >> Fife's best selling weekly newspaper :: ] ] The anchor store in the centre would be Marks and Spencer, whom moved into Dunfermline for the very first time, with a new store at the corner of High Street and Bonnar Street adjacent to the shopping centre entrance. The Kingsgate opened in 1985 at the expense of £30 million.
Kingsgate Expansion
The Kingsgate owners, Terra Firm were always interested to support a much needed extension, modernisation and a new car park for the centre. Plans were approved by Fife Council in 2005. The Kingsgate extension, has become the focus of Dunfermline's city centre regeneration programme which officially started in May 2006. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/5198862.stm BBC NEWS | Scotland | Edinburgh and East | Dunfermline centre revamp starts ] ] The aim is to transform the ancient capital of Scotland into a new 21st century shopping and leisure hub, that will hopefully encourage more footfall back into the heart of the city. [http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.display&objectid=8773DBAA-E7FE-C7EA-0E59414CDD861862&print=true fifedirect - Making a difference in Dunfermline ] ] Balfour Kilpatrick have been assigned to build the new extension in October 2007. [http://www.balfourkilpatrick.com/news/detail.asp?newsid=692] The developement was opened by Claire Williams on Friday 15th August! [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/herald/An-opening-day-for-the.4298569.jp]
Current Shops
The shopping centre forms part of Dunfermline's core retail area. Dunfermline is the largest town in west fife, and has a catchment of 140,000 people [Fife Council (2006) "Dunfermline Town Centre Fact Sheet" [http://www.fife.gov.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_DunfermlineTownCentreFS.pdf] ] . Key stores include: Game, JD Sports, Monsoon, New Look and Argos. A
McDonald's restaurant is adjacent to the high street entrance of the Kingsgate.The Kingsgate now has nealy 27 new units in the new extension. JJB Sports, Waterstones, Starbucks and New Look moved in to the new extension alongside Debenhams that opened Friday 15th August with Clarks due to move there from the high street in the next few months. [ [http://www.kingsgate-dunfermline.com/location.html Kingsgate Dunfermline ] ]
The new stores within the Kingsgate expansion include Poundland, New Look, Debenhams, Starbucks, Waterstones, Hawkin's Bazaar, The Body Shop, Clarks, Little World, Adams, JJB Sports and Optical Express."
Upon opening only 6 stores had opened with Starbucks opening on Monday 18th August! However the stores that did open attracted hundreds of people and the day was a great success, and many more a scheduled to join in the up coming months.
References
External links
* [http://www.dunfermlinepress.com Dunfermline Press, West Fife's Bestselling Weekly Newspaper]
* [http://www.balfourkilpatrick.com/ balfourkilpatrick-Kingsgate extension builders]
* [http://www.shopkingsgate.co.uk/ Kingsgate Offical Website]
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