Seafront retail centre rising with the tide

Published on Monday 31 May 2010 19:32

ALTHOUGH most of our coastal towns – just like other urban areas of any size – are likely to boast a contemporary, covered shopping centre, it is unusual for such purpose-built retail facilities to extend almost to the seafront itself.

But that is what is planned for Kirkcaldy, where Glasgow-based City Site Estates wants to extend its two-decades-old Mercat Centre so that it will be separated from the North Sea only by a service road and the existing promenade. The company has submitted a planning application for the 50 million extension, which is likely to be considered by Fife Council next month.

The current trading area of the centre is 206,000sq ft and, if approved, the extension will add a further 160,000sq ft of retail and boost the overall size of the development by 250,000sq ft.

The proposed extension will be carried out in five phases. Phase 1 is a new multi-storey car park for the town centre replacing two existing dated car parks and the second phase is an anchor store in the form of a supermarket. This will be followed by additional retail units, including a second, non-food anchor store; phase four is provision of a five-screen multiplex cinema, restaurant units and refurbishment of the existing mall, with a circa 100-bedroom, three-star branded hotel forming the final phase.

The intention is for work to begin in January next year and for the first and second phases to be completed by summer 2013, with the scheme completed by 2016, although City Site Estates adds the caveat that "phasing could be amended as the market dictates".

According to the developer the application follows a lengthy public consultation which saw 67 per cent of respondents back the improvements. However, it appears that some townspeople are unhappy at the prospect of the loss of the "dated" car parks as this is likely to reduce the number of town centre parking spaces. There are around 500 surplus car parking spaces in the town centre at present.

Jim McCain, group property director of City Site Estates plc said: "This is the first stage in our plans to drastically improve the Mercat Centre and connect it to the seafront as well as the High Street. The provision of a five-screen cinema will improve leisure facilities in the town centre and has been high on the wish list from the local residents.

"We have a number of parties who have expressed an interest including several cinema operators and two supermarket chains and we already know that Kirkcaldy is on the list of known requirements for many retailers including TJ Hughes and Primark."

Despite the improvements contained within the overall masterplan, it does not have complete support within the town. One councillor, Neil Crooks, Labour representative for Kirkcaldy North, has expressed concern for the future of the traditional retail stock on the High Street if the project, as proposed, goes ahead.

In for a penny, in for a Pound

FOLLOWING last week's announcement that Poundland is to open its biggest Scottish unit in Glasgow comes news of another launch, this time in Edinburgh, where the discount retailer has taken an assignation of QS's existing lease at a passing rent of 160,000 per annum with the next rent review due in September 2011. The unit extends to 12,182sq ft split over ground and basement levels.

Further north, Poundland has acquired the former 8,000sq ft Au Naturale store in Inverurie, on a ten-year lease at 80,000. CBRE acted for Poundland in both deals, Cushman & Wakefield for QS in Edinburgh and Culverwell for the private landlord in Inverurie.

EDINBURGH-BASED Almondale Investments has let a unit on its parade of shops in the city's upmarket Barnton district. Sole trader Julie Pearson is to open a gift boutique, called Cloudberry Gifts, in the unit and has taken a ten-year lease at an annual rental of 12,850 per annum. "Barnton is a popular residential area and has needed a shop like this for some time," said Iain Mercer, group managing director of Almondale Investments. Both parties were unrepresented.

THE Chinese restaurant Chop Chop is set to open its second outlet in Edinburgh at Commercial Quay, Leith, where it has taken the former Beanscene coffee bar, extending 2,425 sq ft, on a 25-year lease at a rental of 37,000 per annum. The new restaurant is due to open on the 14 June and will follow the same concept as the existing Morrison Street outlet, which was launched four years ago and is renowned for its northern Chinese cuisine and dumplings. Ryden represented Commercial Quay's asset manager M7 Real Estate and landlord, GE Capital Real Estate.

Great Big Property Gig returns soon

IT WILL soon be time for the next Great Big Property Gig – the fifth. Being held once again at the 02 ABC2 in Glasgow, the event on 10 June will star The Apple Beggars, an Edinburgh-based band, and comedian Jim Muir.

One of the founder members of the GBPG is Donny McKinnon, director of Downtown Space (developer of The Hub at Pacific Quay), who will be playing in one of the performing bands, The A51s, whose line up also includes Stephen McHard, a director at Wallace Whittle. Also performing is Logic, a band that includes Bill Gillespie, a director at Duco Architects, while Sean Robinson, MD at Park Lane, acts as MC.

The Gig will also raise funds for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association and Cancer Research UK and once again, there will be the opportunity to win a classic Fender Stratocaster in the raffle. Last year, 10,000 was raised, bringing the total since the event started to 70,000. Information and tickets: thegreatbigpropertygig.com

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