Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh

Ocean Terminal is a shopping centre in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, designed by Sir Terence Conran.[1]

Ocean Terminal
LocationEdinburgh, Scotland, UK
Coordinates55°58′53″N 3°10′37″W
AddressOcean Drive
Opening date2001
DeveloperForth Ports
OwnerResolution Property
ArchitectTerence Conran
No. of anchor tenants2
Parking1,600
Websitewww.oceanterminal.com

It is built on former industrial docklands on the north side of the city at the edge of the boundary between formerly separate ports of Newhaven and Leith. The land was formerly occupied by the Henry Robb shipyard, which closed in 1983. Since then, the entire area has undergone urban renewal and regeneration, much led by and on the lands in the ownership of Forth Ports and its predecessors.

These and other developments have played key parts in the regeneration of Leith.[2] The now-decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia, which is accessed via the Britannia Visitor Centre within Ocean Terminal, is permanently berthed next to the building and can be viewed from the centre. Although originally planned to also function as a working passenger terminal, the permanent berthing of the Britannia has meant that the building has never been used for this function, despite its name.

Royal Yacht Britannia

The berth currently occupied by Britannia was originally planned to handle cruise liners. As Britannia is now permanently moored alongside the Ocean Terminal, Forth Ports plan to build another terminal for cruise liners.

PureGym and Debenhams are the Terminal's main shops; in total there are some 85 shops, 6 restaurants, 3 coffee shops, a variety of bars and cafés, as well as a cinema Vue and a day spa.[3]

The centre has car parking facilities and many Lothian Buses services terminate and begin there. The shopping centre was originally going to be a stop on the Edinburgh Trams route but was subsequently cut when the line was shortened to York Place. However, there is an ongoing consultation by the City of Edinburgh Council on extending the current tram line to Newhaven which would include a stop at Ocean Terminal.

There is an Antony Gormley sculpture located on an abandoned pier behind the building.

In late-2018, the owners of the centre announced plans to refurbish and rebrand the centre as Porta, with a focus being placed on outlets and factory stores.[4] In June 2020, these plans were dropped by new joint venture owners, ICG Real Estate and Ambassador Group and instead invest £10 million in the centre.[5][6]

Events

The centre occasionally hosts music events. In 2003, it was the venue for the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards.[7]

References


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