The Kingdom Shopping Centre was developed over a number of phases between 1960 and 2000, coinciding with the rapid growth of the new town and the rising local population. Initially, the Glenrothes Development Corporation envisaged that the town centre area would be built on the same principles of the English new towns such as
Stevenage,
Bracknell and
Harlow consisting of a series of shopping streets and squares separated from traffic. As shopping trends and attitudes changed in subsequent decades, much of the town centre became internalised, consistent with the delivery of the
shopping mall development model being made popular in
North America and also being delivered in other towns and cities across the UK.
Phase 1 The first phase was built around Central Avenue, between North Street and Church Street in the eastern portion of the town centre. This was in the form of two to three storey shop and business units orientated around a modern
Pedestrian zone creating what is now Lyon Square, Albany Gate, Kintyre Gate and Postgate. A three-storey glazed
butterfly roof and a modern fountain were incorporated as features in the design of the main public square. The Golden Acorn Hotel, a ten pin bowling alley, the town's Post Office, job centre and a bus turning circle were all delivered as part of the early phases of development. A Co-Op Department store opened in 1964 at the eastern entrance to the square and a town clock was built as a feature adjacent to the store.
Phase 2 The design of the first phase had a number of problems, including a leaking glass roof on the main square, vandalising of the public fountain and experiencing wind tunnel effects due to open and exposed entrances to the square. In 1976 a decision was taken to remove the glazed roof and the fountain and roof over the square at shop fascia height creating an internalised and environmentally controlled space. The shopping centre was also extended west to the point where Falkland Square is now. A
Woolworths store (now
Home Bargains) was built to anchor the west end of the centre. A Presto supermarket (later
Safeway and then
Dunnes Stores) at Carrick Gate and the New Glenrothes House office block (since demolished in 2009) at Falkland Gate were built as later additions to the second phase. A cinema, bingo hall and nightclub were also constructed at Carrick Gate.
Phase 4 In 1993, with the winding up of the Glenrothes Development Corporation (GDC) on the horizon, a fourth phase was built. This was partially funded with a central government grant to provide any last major projects for the new town. The fourth phase incorporated the Rothes Halls, a multi-purpose community facility with a café, theatre, library and conference facilities.
Starbucks and
Burger King also opened
drive-thru outlets on North Street in 2021.
Future proposals A range of development projects are proposed to regenerate the town centre steered by a masterplan that was approved by the Glenrothes Area Committee in March 2021. This seeks to address a variety of negative trends including addressing the reduction in retail operators and office floorspace in the town centre due to changing market and working requirements and rationalisation of Fife Council's office estate. The masterplan also recommends celebrating the unique legacy of public art bequeathed to the town, introducing new business opportunities outwith the Kingdom Shopping Centre, creating new public spaces and meeting areas including a new town square, and supporting an enhanced evening economy. Demolition of older parts of the Kingdom Shopping Centre at Albany Gate were undertaken in 2026. ==References and notes==