A major retail and leisure complex is coming to East Kilbride with the creation of five thousand jobs.

The £90m Centre West complex will compliment the existing Plaza Centre and will create two thousand permanent jobs - the rest being created during the 18-month construction phase of the scheme.

The three-level complex will be built on the site of the old Centre One tax office and adjacent car park, and construction work will start this year for completion in March 2001.

The deal was announced last October and is the culmination of months of detailed planning and negotiation between the Council and developers, British Land and Stannifer. It will give a huge boost to the economy of the town and west central Scotland.

South Lanarkshire Council leader, Councillor Tom McCabe said the agreement showed the Council's commitment to bringing jobs and investment to East Kilbride.

"This is a huge and exciting development," said Mr McCabe.

"It will benefit the whole economy and ensure that the new town stays at the cutting edge of quality shopping well into the next century. I am delighted the Council was able to play its part in making it a reality. It shows the confidence we and the private sector have in the future of East Kilbride.”

Centre West will be a state of the art retailing and leisure complex, rivalling similar developments elsewhere in the country. Its first two levels will be for shopping, catering for fashion, jewellery, shoes, and other typical high street goods. Major store chains are planning to open up in what is seen as a prime site and negotiations are ongoing with Marks and Spencer. They plan to open a flagship store in the new complex. There is also space for five other large retail outlets and more than 50 single shop units.

The main entrance will be off East Kilbride's Righead Roundabout and a 'glass cube' entrance hall will lead to a performance and events area similar in size to the central feature in Glasgow's Princes Square.Centre West's glass roof, floral displays, artworks and events such as carol singing, will ensure it has a bright airy feel and a good shopping atmosphere.

The third level of Centre West will house leisure facilities and may be linked to the Dollan Aqua Centre via a pedestrian bridge.

Permanent security staff will mean a safe environment for all shoppers and car parking for 1400 cars will be to AA 'gold' standard with closed circuit television surveillance and proper lighting at all times. A 'shopmobility' design policy will ensure complete access for the disabled.

East Kilbride has a population of more than 80,000 with a shopping catchment area of 1.5 million. Associate architect Norman Graham, of Building Design Partnership, described Centre West as a natural extension to the existing town centre in East Kilbride.

"It will both complement and complete the Olympia, Plaza, and Southgate schemes," he said. "The glass lift tower will act like a beacon and overlook the top-level leisure space. There will be ample lifts, bridges and escalators ensuring the whole thing links well together. Outside, high quality landscaping and terracotta panels on a metal frame will give Centre West a distinctive appearance when seen from the roadway."

South Lanarkshire Council taxpayers will benefit from the substantial rental the developers will pay for the Centre West site.

British Land's Development Director Stephen Kalman, said: "We are delighted to be involved in a scheme which will further reinforce the retail strength of East Kilbride town centre."

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