The Almondvale Centre is currently undergoing a major expansion with an investment of £90 million. The new shopping centre extension to be known as "The Elements" includes 350,000 sq ft of additional retail space in Livingston (current space 1.2 million sq ft) 25,000 sq ft of leisure space including new restaurants and a new multi-storey car park with over 1,500 spaces.
The plans also provide new central spaces, streetscape improvements and enhanced parking facilities. During the construction phase, 306 jobs will be created and, once complete, there will be an additional 1,614 jobs in the retail, leisure and catering sectors .
A key element of the scheme is the provision of community benefits, as shopping areas will be linked and landscaped to include a winter garden and a new space for events which will create a striking new town ?heart?, using modern, state-of-the art materials similar to those used in the award winning Eden Project. There are also plans to include 28 one and two-bedroom flats, including affordable housing, and an 84-bed hotel.
To support growing shopper numbers, a new multi-storey car park (1,523 spaces over four levels) has been introduced and a new an innovative Variable Messaging System (VMS) alerts drivers to available spaces. This will make car parking more efficient at peak periods, along with green travel plans such as park and walk and cycle bays. Improvements to the local highways system have also been made.
The development will be anchored by a new Debenhams Department Store and other confirmed tenants include Marks and Spencers. Construction started in Autumn 2006 and is scheduled for completion in Autumn 2008.
For more information go to The Elements website.
