While most shopping centres across Scotland today will be swarmed with Boxing Day shoppers looking to nab a bargain, one in West Lothian is completely deserted.
Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village opened in 1996, but it now lies empty 26 years later. The shopping centre once included more than 40 shops and was claimed to be the country's premier outlet for designer clothes.
As reported by Edinburgh Live, the 50,000 square feet destination brought more than 1 million shoppers to its doors in the first year it opened. At that time, visitors were told that the premises would be extended to include additional leisure facilities such as a snow centre and a golf course.
Five Sisters was located between Edinburgh and Glasgow by the M8 motorway, making it a perfect spot for Scots in the central belt of the country. It was open every day of the week and among the brands on offer were Versace, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Rockport and Levis.
Visitors could also enjoy a Leisureland facility, which included a soft play centre, go karts, an entertainment centre, and many more activities for children. Additionally, there were cafes and restaurants where shoppers could grab a bite to eat.
When bosses decided they wanted to expand the shopping centre, they submitted an application for an £18 million extension to West Lothian Council.
The proposed upgrade included a snow centre with ski slopes, toboggan runs, snowboarding, and a children’s winter wonderland.
However, the plans never materialised due to the company's financial worsening situation. A primary factor was the opening of the nearby Livingston Designer Outlet in 2000 which businesses and customers flocked to.
Just one year later, many of the shops Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village had closed their doors, while others were heavily discounting their merchandise. By 2004, bosses had decided to close the shopping centre, and the site has been deserted ever since.
Chairman of Freeport Sean Collidge confirmed at the time that the opening of the Livingston shopping centre was the primary reason for the closure.
He stated: “This scheme was 100 per cent let when it opened in 1996 and had four tremendous years. Then retail in Scotland became overpopulated in the central belt.”
West Lothian Council have refused calls to build housing in the area but say in their Local Plan that they are keen to see it redeveloped.
A spokesperson said: "The re-development, or re-use, of Westwood (Freeport), near West Calder, previously operating as a factory outlet centre, is supported by the council.
"Leisure and tourist uses, specialised employment, starter units (Class 4), or institutional uses appropriate to a rural location will be supported.
"Some element of new or extended building outwith the development envelope on site and/or housing (very low density and a maximum of 30 houses meriting a rural location, all confined to the development envelope) will be considered, where this is shown to be necessary in terms of the financial viability of an appropriate scheme."
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