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Ladybbird · 27-12-21, 04:22

Inside Ghost Town Shopping Centre That Lies Abandoned 25 Years After Opening

Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village opened in 1996, with over 40 stores, claiming to be Scotland's new premier outlet for designer clothes

Daily Mirror 27 DEC 2021

Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village The 50,000sq ft shopping centre near West Calder Scotland

An abandoned shopping centre lies empty and derelict 25 years after its flagship opening.

Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village in West Lothian, Scotland, opened in 1996, with over 40 stores, claiming to be Scotland's new premier outlet for designer clothes.

But after a huge decline by 2004, Freeport Leisure decided it was time to close the centre down and they shut up shop.

The site has been derelict ever since, with the BBC using it for filming on a zombie children’s show in 2015, Edinburgh Live reports.

The 50,000sq ft shopping centre attracted over a million visitors in its first year and promised to extend to include more leisure facilities, like a snow centre and a golf course.

The venue was open seven days a week from 10am and had top brands on offer including Versace, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Rockport and Levis.

They also had a Leisureland facility, with soft play, go karts, entertainment centre and many more activities for children.

There were two cafes and another two restaurants on site to ensure all of their customers needs were met.

One year after opening the bosses at Freeport Leisure even wanted to extend the premises.

A planning application was sent off to West Lothian Council for an £18million upgrade onto the leisure centre.

The snow centre would have featured ski slopes, toboggan runs, snowboarding, and a children’s winter wonderland.

There had been plans to expand the Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village

But that idea, and a new golf course and putting range, never materialised as the fortunes of the Freeport began to shift rapidly.

The new Livingston Designer Outlet had a big impact on the store when it opened in 2000.

Customers began to turn away in their droves, and tenants also moved their stores to the new outlet in Livingston.

The decline was rapid and within just one year in 2001 most of the shops had shut and others were offering reduced clearance sales and preparing to leave.

By 2004, Freeport Leisure decided it was time to close the centre down and they shut up shop.

Chairman of Freeport, Sean Collidge, admitted at the time that the Livingston outlet opening nearby was their downfall.
He said: “This scheme was 100 per cent let when it opened in 1996 and had four tremendous years. Then retail in Scotland became overpopulated in the central belt”

West Lothian Council have rejected plans to create housing in the area but say in their Local Plan that they are keen to see it redeveloped.

A spokesperson said: “The re-development, or re-use, of Westwood (Freeport), near West Calder, previously operating as a factory outlet centre, is supported by the council.

“Leisure and tourist uses, specialised employment, starter units (Class 4), or institutional uses appropriate to a rural location will be supported.
"Some element of new or extended building out with the development envelope on site and/or housing (very low density and a maximum of 30 houses meriting a rural location, all confined to the development envelope) will be considered, where this is shown to be necessary in terms of the financial viability of an appropriate scheme.”

27-12-21, 04:22	#1
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,566 Thanks: 27,627 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Inside Ghost Town Shopping Centre -Abandoned 25 Years Inside Ghost Town Shopping Centre That Lies Abandoned 25 Years After Opening Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village opened in 1996, with over 40 stores, claiming to be Scotland's new premier outlet for designer clothes Daily Mirror 27 DEC 2021 Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village The 50,000sq ft shopping centre near West Calder Scotland An abandoned shopping centre lies empty and derelict 25 years after its flagship opening. Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village in West Lothian, Scotland, opened in 1996, with over 40 stores, claiming to be Scotland's new premier outlet for designer clothes. But after a huge decline by 2004, Freeport Leisure decided it was time to close the centre down and they shut up shop. The site has been derelict ever since, with the BBC using it for filming on a zombie children’s show in 2015, Edinburgh Live reports. The 50,000sq ft shopping centre attracted over a million visitors in its first year and promised to extend to include more leisure facilities, like a snow centre and a golf course. The venue was open seven days a week from 10am and had top brands on offer including Versace, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Rockport and Levis. They also had a Leisureland facility, with soft play, go karts, entertainment centre and many more activities for children. There were two cafes and another two restaurants on site to ensure all of their customers needs were met. One year after opening the bosses at Freeport Leisure even wanted to extend the premises. A planning application was sent off to West Lothian Council for an £18million upgrade onto the leisure centre. The snow centre would have featured ski slopes, toboggan runs, snowboarding, and a children’s winter wonderland. There had been plans to expand the Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village But that idea, and a new golf course and putting range, never materialised as the fortunes of the Freeport began to shift rapidly. The new Livingston Designer Outlet had a big impact on the store when it opened in 2000. Customers began to turn away in their droves, and tenants also moved their stores to the new outlet in Livingston. The decline was rapid and within just one year in 2001 most of the shops had shut and others were offering reduced clearance sales and preparing to leave. By 2004, Freeport Leisure decided it was time to close the centre down and they shut up shop. Chairman of Freeport, Sean Collidge, admitted at the time that the Livingston outlet opening nearby was their downfall. He said: “This scheme was 100 per cent let when it opened in 1996 and had four tremendous years. Then retail in Scotland became overpopulated in the central belt” West Lothian Council have rejected plans to create housing in the area but say in their Local Plan that they are keen to see it redeveloped. A spokesperson said: “The re-development, or re-use, of Westwood (Freeport), near West Calder, previously operating as a factory outlet centre, is supported by the council. “Leisure and tourist uses, specialised employment, starter units (Class 4), or institutional uses appropriate to a rural location will be supported. "Some element of new or extended building out with the development envelope on site and/or housing (very low density and a maximum of 30 houses meriting a rural location, all confined to the development envelope) will be considered, where this is shown to be necessary in terms of the financial viability of an appropriate scheme.” __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

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