| AdminHistory | Expansion of Almondvale Shopping Centre was proposed before even the first phase was complete, with Livingston Development Corporation inviting a number of proposals for development of phase two and three of the Centre in the mid-1970s. There was considerable effort put into developing a brief and plan for phase two of the Centre in the early 1980s, culminating in a finished brief and design in 1985. However, the project stalled. Due to a new era of out of town shopping centres and changing shopping patterns in Scotland, the Rover Group had put forward a £100m plan to refurbish its former British Leyland Plant as a 'mega' store in nearby Bathgate, whilst in Edinburgh there were representations made to make the Gyle Shopping Centre several times larger than its final size. Given these possible rival developments, the Livingston Development Corporation struggled to get approval for the second phase of Almondvale Shopping Centre until the early 1990s.
During this process the Corporation hired Donaldsons as consultants, Gentles as Chartered and Quantity Surveyors, and the Building Design Partnership (BDP) were brought on as Architects and Engineers. |
| ScopeandContent | These files mainly relate to the development of a brief for the 1985 attempt to develop Phase II of The Centre. 25 files which comprise:
1-7. Management files containing appraisals and feasibility studies for Phase II, internal LDC strategy and minutes of meetings, correspondence with Scottish Economic Planning Department, 1974-1992
8-22. Papers relating to the creation of the 1985 development brief for Phase II of the Almondvale Centre, drafted in conjunction with Donaldsons, BDP and Gentles, and including correspondence, minutes of meetings, internal memos, detailed maps and plans and financial data.
23-25. Financial data relating to fees charged by Donaldsons, Gentles and BDP. |