An abandoned shopping centre in Scotland has been left to decay for two decades, earning the moniker of a 'ghost town'. The Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village, located near West Calder, once boasted over 40 stores and attracted more than a million visitors in its first year after opening in 1996.
The 50,000 square feet outlet centre, situated between Edinburgh and Glasgow just off the M8 motorway, was a premier destination for designer brands including Versace, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Rockport and Levis. It also featured a Leisureland facility with soft play, go karts, and an entertainment centre, along with two cafes and two restaurants.
Plans for an £18 million upgrade, which could have included ski slopes, toboggan runs, snowboarding and a children's winter wonderland, never materialised. The fortunes of the Freeport shifted rapidly after the opening of the Livingston Designer Outlet in 2000, which drew away customers and tenants.
The site has been derelict ever since, with the BBC using it for filming a zombie children's show in 2015. Sean Collidge, chairman of Freeport, admitted the Livingston outlet's opening was their downfall, stating: '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 has rejected plans for housing but supports redevelopment for leisure, tourist, or specialised employment uses. A council spokesperson said: 'The re-development, or re-use, of Westwood (Freeport) is supported by the council. Leisure and tourist uses, specialised employment, starter units, or institutional uses appropriate to a rural location will be supported.'
