The Mercat Shopping Centre

The Mercat Shopping Centre is located in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom. The Mercat has one anchor store; TK Maxx. The Mercat – including surrounding areas – accounts for at least 30% of all the floorspace in Kirkcaldy town centre, which in total is 46,000-square-metre (500,000 sq ft) and providing as much as 200 shops, making Kirkcaldy the largest shopping area in Fife. [1] The shopping centre was built in two phases between 1972 and 1981–83 with a refurbishment completed in 1997.[2] A proposal to extend the shopping centre for a third phase is pending. In 1996 plans to broadcast an episode of Family Fortunes live from the Mercat Centre were scrapped due to concerns that the event would not be covered by the Centre's insurance company. Les Dennis described the decision as "unfortunate, but sadly unavoidable".

The Mercat Shopping Centre
High Street Entrance
LocationKirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
AddressManagement Offices, High Street
Opening date1972
1983 (extension)
DeveloperMichael Laird & Partners (extension)
OwnerMars Pensions Fund
No. of stores and services63
No. of anchor tenants3
Total retail floor area20,000 square metres (230,000 square feet)

The shopping centre is currently owned by Mars Pension Fund and managed by Lasalle Investment Management.

History

Kirkcaldy Town council considered a controversial redevelopment of Kirkcaldy town centre in January 1964, which was only passed by a narrow margin, after a fiercely contested public inquiry. A plot of land situated between the High Street and the Esplanade was purchased in April 1964 for demolition as the new site of the shopping centre.[3] Four Streets consisting of Market, Cowie, Rose and Thistle were all lost.[4]

First phase

Construction of the shopping centre was supposed to commence building work in Autumn 1967, but the project was delayed until the early 1970s.[5] Work finally began on the first phase of The Mercat in 1971 – and buildings numbered from 94–112 in the High Street including the birthplace of Adam Smith, were demolished.[6] This was to contain initially 29 units, a major department store and one multi-storey car park - for completion in 1972.[6][7]

Second phase

The success of the Mercat, prompted an extension which was given the green light in 1978.[8] The extension dubbed "Mercat II" was built, alongside a second multi-storey car park, by Michael Laird and Partners between 1981 and 1983. The Car Park, despite only been two-storey, was known for presenting a deep roof, identical dormers and separated wrought-iron inserts on the wall.[9]

References
  1. Town Centre Statistic Survey. Fife Council. December 2002.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Kirkcaldy's history Fife Free Press"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved on 22 June 2008
  4. Salmond, Catherine (2007) Fighting for the forgotten streets of old Kirkcaldy Fife Free Press
  5. Kirkcaldy's history Fife Free Press"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved on 14 July 2008
  6. Kirkcaldy Civic Society (2007). High Street: Port Brae to Nicol Street, 7th edition. ISBN 0-946294-24-0.
  7. "Fife Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More". Fifetoday.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  8. Kirkcaldy's history Fife Free Press Retrieved on 22 June 2008
  9. Pride, Glen L. (1999). Kingdom of Fife, 2nd edition. The Rutland Press. ISBN 1-873190-49-2.
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