Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village in West Lothian, once a bustling retail destination, now stands completely deserted 26 years after its opening in 1996. The centre, which boasted over 40 shops and was touted as Scotland's premier outlet for designer clothing, attracted more than one million visitors in its first year.
Located conveniently between Edinburgh and Glasgow by the M8 motorway, the 50,000 square foot site was open daily and featured brands such as Versace, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Rockport, and Levis. It also offered a Leisureland facility with a soft play centre, go-karts, and other children's activities, along with cafes and restaurants.
Plans for an £18 million expansion, including a snow centre with ski slopes and a children's winter wonderland, were submitted to West Lothian Council but never materialised due to the company's worsening financial situation. A key factor was the opening of the nearby Livingston Designer Outlet in 2000, which drew businesses and customers away.
By 2001, visitor numbers had plummeted, and within a year, many shops had closed or heavily discounted merchandise. In 2004, bosses decided to shut the centre, and it has remained abandoned ever since. Freeport Chairman Sean Collidge cited the overpopulation of retail in Scotland's central belt as the primary reason.
In 2015, the BBC used the derelict site for filming a zombie children's show. West Lothian Council has refused calls for housing but supports redevelopment for leisure, tourism, or specialised employment uses, with a possible maximum of 30 houses if financially viable.
