Kingdom Shopping Centre
 | |
| Location | Glenrothes, Fife and Scotland |
|---|---|
| Address | Glenrothes Town Centre |
| Opening date | 1963 |
| Developer | Neale House / Glenrothes Development Corporation |
| Owner | Mars Pension Trustees Ltd [1] |
| No. of stores and services | 110 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 1 |
| Total retail floor area | 40,000 square metres (430,000 square feet) |
| Parking | 1,500 |
| Website |
www |
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 sq m (430,000 sq ft) of (gross) floorspace.[2][3]
The centre has some of the highest levels of footfall in Fife[2] 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/civic centre. A bingohall and cinema also form part of the shopping complex. Glenrothes bus station is located next to the southeast end of the centre.[3]
Key stores in the Kingdom Centre include Argos, Boots, Dunnes, Sports Direct, Iceland, JD Sports and New Look.
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 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.[4][5] [6]
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 Homebargains) 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.[4][5]
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, Poundworld and Store 21) anchored the third phase of the shopping centre when it opened.[4][5]
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 cafe, theatre, library and conference facilities.[4][5][6]
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 an "alfresco" style cafe. A Somerfield supermarket (latterly a Co-Op but currently vacant) anchored the fourth phase of the centre when it first opened.[4][5][6]
Future proposals
An Action Plan has been created for the long term renewal of the town centre by Fife Council in collaboration with other local stakeholders. This outlines short and long term projects to enhance the built environment of the town centre and improve its usage.[3]
References and notes
- ↑ name="New centre owners">"New owners for Kingdom Centre". www.fifetoday.co.uk. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
- 1 2 "Glenrothes Town Centre Profile" (PDF). Fife Council. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- 1 2 3 "Glenrothes Town Centre Action Plan". www.williemiller.co.uk. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ferguson, Keith (1982). A History of Glenrothes.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ferguson, Keith (1996). A New Town's Heritage, Glenrothes 1948-1995.
- 1 2 3 Cowling, David (1997). An Essay for Today- The Scottish New Towns 1947-1997.
External links
Kingdom Centre website Fife Household Shoppers Survey
Coordinates: 56°11′46″N 3°10′22″W / 56.19609°N 3.17273°W