Kingdom Shopping Centre

Infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = The Kingdom Shopping Centre


image width = 15px
caption =
location = Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland
address = Glenrothes Town Centre
coordinates =
opening_date = 1963
developer = Neale House/ GDC
manager =
owner = CIS
architect =
number_of_stores = 110
number_of_anchors = 2
floor_area = 40,000 square metres (430,000 square feet)
parking = 1,500
website = www.kingdomshoppingcentre.co.uk
footnotes =

The Kingdom Centre forms the main shopping element of Glenrothes 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 sq m (430,000 sq ft) of (gross) floorspace. [Kingdom Shopping Centre website- "Agent Zone" [http://www.kingdomshoppingcentre.co.uk/web/site/business/retailerssupport/agents.asp] ] [Fife Council (2006) "Glenrothes Town Centre Profile" [http://www.fife.gov.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_GlenrothesTownCentreFS.pdf] ] [Fife Council (2006) "Fife Town Centre Audit" [http://www.fife.gov.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_TownCentreAuditFinalReportOct2006.doc] ] The centre is popular locally and has some of the highest levels of footfall in Fife. [Fife Council (2006) "Fife Town Centres Footfall Study" [http://www.fife.gov.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_TownCentreFootfallFinalReportOct2006.doc] ] The centre currently contains over 100 shops as well as a variety of cafes, the town's central library, the Rothes Halls- the town's theatre and a ten pin bowling alley. The town's main bus station is located next to the southeast end of the centre.

Key stores in the Kingdom Centre include Dunnes, Co-op, Woolworths, JJB Sports and New Look.

History

Phase 1

The 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 large modern pedestrian square. A large glazed roof and a modern fountain were incorporated as features in the design. 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.cite book
last = Ferguson
first = Keith
year = 1982
title = A History of Glenrothes] cite book
last = Ferguson
first = Keith
year = 1996
title = A New Town's Heritage, Glenrothes 1948-1995] cite book
last = Cowling
first = David
authorlink = David Cowling
year = 1997
title = An Essay for Today- The Scottish New Towns 1947-1997]

Phase 2

The design of the first phase had a number of problems and in 1976 a decision was taken to remove the glazed roof and the fountain and roof over the square at shop fascia height. The shopping centre was extended west to the point where Falkland Square is now. A Woolworths store was built to anchor the west end of the centre. A Presto supermarket (now Dunnes Stores) and the New Glenrothes House office block were built as later additions to the second phase.

Phase 3

In 1982 a third phase was built extending the centre further west. The domed Unicorn Square was the principle feature of the third phase and Unicorn House, an office block with distinctive reflective glass, was built to the north of the development. A Gateway supermarket (now New Look, JJB Sports & Peacocks) anchored the third phase of the shopping centre when it opened.

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 aid in providing any last major projects for the new town. The fourth phase incorporated the Rothes Halls, a multi-purpose community facility with a cafe, theatre, library and conference facilities.

A major feature of the fourth phase was the high-roofed and glazed Rothes Square complete with a hanging triangle clock, circular feature floor design and an alfresco cafe. A Somerfield supermarket (now Co-Op) anchored the fourth phase of the centre when it first opened.

Future Proposals

Shopping in Glenrothes is to be majorly enhanced with proposals to expand the Kingdom Centre. A Sainsbury's superstore (one of the largest stores proposed in Scotland) along with a parade of shops and a new multi-storey car park are proposed as part of the development at North Street. [ Clarke, Debbie (2007) [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/glenrothes-gazette-news/35m-Glenrothes-shops-plan-goahead.3576283.jp £35m Glenrothes shops plan go-ahead] "Glenrothes Gazette" 2007-12-13. Retrieved on December_21, 2007] [ Warrender, Claire (2007) [http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/12/10/newsstory10667421t0.asp Glenrothes town centre plan backed] "The Courier", 2007-12-10. Retrieved on December_10, 2007] [Purnell, Fiona (2007) [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/glenrothes-gazette-news?articleid=3058540 Shops plan - first look] "Glenrothes Gazette", 2007-07-25. Retrieved on July_31, 2007] Proposals have also been put forward to regenerate older phases of the centre at Albany Gate. [Elliott, Claire (2007) [http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1993/United_Kingdom.html Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes] "Shopping-centre.co.uk", 2007-07-01. Retrieved on July_25, 2007] [ Kelly, Charlene (2007) [http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/06/11/newsstory9839564t0.asp Sainsbury’s Glenrothes plan comes step closer] "The Courier", 2007-06-11. Retrieved on June_29, 2007 ] [ Kingdom Centre website, "development plans" [http://www.kingdomshoppingcentre.co.uk/web/site/information/development.asp] ]

References & Notes

External links

Official site [http://www.kingdomshoppingcentre.co.uk]