St. James Centre

St. James Centre was a large urban shopping centre in central Edinburgh, Scotland, located beside the former New St. Andrew House office building used by the Scottish Office. The centre formed part of a substantial post-war redevelopment of the eastern side of Edinburgh’s city centre and was completed in 1973. Its architecture and setting were closely associated with the Brutalist government-office complex positioned above the retail areas. The project was initially designed in 1964 by the Burke Martin Partnership. After the partnership between Ian Burke and Martin ended in 1969, the scheme was completed by architects Ian G. Cooke and Hugh Martin of Hugh Martin & Partners. The completed development combined retail accommodation with office space and became a prominent, though controversial, feature of the city centre. The heavy concrete appearance of the associated government offices attracted sustained criticism and made the complex one of Edinburgh’s least-liked buildings architecturally, while the shopping centre itself developed a reputation as a busy and commercially successful destination. At its height, St. James Centre contained more than 60 shops, cafés, restaurants and food-service venues, including a food court. Its tenant mix included national fashion, entertainment, sports, department-store and convenience brands. Stores present during the 2010s included River Island, Burton, HMV, Wallis, Next, Sports Direct, JD Sports, Subway, GAME and Dorothy Perkins. John Lewis operated a department store within the development and was the principal retail tenant to remain open during the transition to redevelopment. The centre’s later history was dominated by plans to replace the 1970s complex. Nuveen Real Estate, identified as the owner of the site, pursued an approximately £850 million redevelopment covering the shopping centre, the former New St. Andrew House office building and a hotel. Edinburgh City Council approved the plans in July 2015 despite objections from conservation organisations, which raised concerns about the possible effect of the replacement development on Edinburgh’s World Heritage setting. The redevelopment proposed demolition of the existing centre and construction of a three-storey, glass-roofed, crescent-shaped retail building designed by Allan Murray Architects. Most shops closed in 2016 in preparation for demolition. An arrangement with John Lewis allowed its store to continue trading through the construction period, with refurbishment and integration into the completed development planned as part of the wider scheme. The St. James Centre closed to the public on 16 October 2016, and demolition followed. The replacement project was initially promoted under names including Edinburgh St James and ultimately became St James Quarter. Its first phase opened in June 2021, followed by further retail and leisure elements, including a cinema, in 2022. Hotels associated with the redevelopment opened in 2023 after delays linked in part to the coronavirus pandemic. St. James Centre therefore survives as a historical retail property and former Edinburgh landmark rather than as an operating shopping-centre brand.

St. James Centre was created as part of Edinburgh’s post-war central-city redevelopment and was completed in 1973. The original design work began in 1964 with the Burke Martin Partnership. Following the end of the partnership between Ian Burke and Martin in 1969, Ian G. Cooke and Hugh Martin of Hugh Martin & Partners completed the architectural work. The development placed retail space beside and beneath the former New St. Andrew House, a Brutalist office building associated with the Scottish Office. This combination gave the site a distinctive but divisive identity. The office architecture was widely criticised for its stark concrete form and was often described as one of Edinburgh’s least popular buildings. The shopping centre, by contrast, was commercially active and became a well-used retail destination in the city centre. The centre contained more than 60 stores and food and hospitality venues. Its offer covered fashion, department-store retail, music and entertainment, sports, convenience shopping and casual dining. During the 2010s, the tenant roster included River Island, Burton, HMV, Wallis, Next, Sports Direct, JD Sports, Subway, GAME and Dorothy Perkins. John Lewis was the major anchor store and remained open during the redevelopment transition. By the 2010s, the owners were pursuing a comprehensive replacement rather than a limited refurbishment. Nuveen Real Estate advanced plans for an approximately £850 million mixed-use project incorporating a new retail centre, the former office-site area and a hotel. Edinburgh City Council approved the scheme in July 2015. The approval was contested by conservation groups concerned that the scale and design of the new development could affect the character of Edinburgh’s World Heritage environment. The approved concept called for demolition of the 1970s building and its replacement with a three-storey, crescent-shaped structure with a glass roof, designed by Allan Murray Architects. The retail units were expected to be completed first, with the wider hotel element following later. In November 2015, reports indicated that the centre would close in late 2016. In practice, all shops other than John Lewis closed in preparation for the works, and the centre ceased operating on 16 October 2016. Demolition was subsequently completed, while John Lewis continued trading under an arrangement intended to carry it into the new development. The replacement scheme was initially referred to as Edinburgh St James and later adopted the name St James Quarter. Its first phase opened in June 2021. Further retail and leisure components, including a cinema, opened in 2022. The associated hotels opened in 2023 after delays partly attributed to the coronavirus pandemic. The opening of St James Quarter marked the end of St. James Centre as an operating shopping centre and its transition into Edinburgh’s redevelopment history.

• 2023

  Hotels associated with replacement development open

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Hotels within the wider replacement development opened after construction delays.

• 2022

  Additional retail and leisure facilities open

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Further stores and a cinema opened as later elements of the replacement project were completed.

• 2021

  First phase of replacement opens

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The first phase of the replacement St James Quarter opened in June 2021.

• 2016

  Centre closes and demolition begins

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The centre closed on 16 October 2016, with demolition proceeding as part of the replacement development.

• 2015

  Redevelopment receives planning approval

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Edinburgh City Council approved plans for the major replacement of the shopping centre, former office building and hotel site.

• 1973

  Shopping centre completed

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The original St. James Centre building was completed as a central Edinburgh retail and office development.

• 1969

  Completion design transferred to Hugh Martin & Partners

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  After the Burke Martin partnership ended, Ian G. Cooke and Hugh Martin of Hugh Martin & Partners completed the architectural work.

• 1964

  Initial architectural design

  [1]St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The St. James Centre scheme was initially designed by the Burke Martin Partnership.

A large, centrally located Edinburgh shopping centre serving everyday retail, fashion, department-store, food and leisure needs. It combined a popular retail offer with a heavily criticised Brutalist architectural setting before being replaced by the St James Quarter redevelopment.

• Fashion and general retail · 1973

  Retail stores

  The centre’s main offer consisted of a broad collection of high-street shops serving fashion, apparel, footwear, department-store and general merchandise needs. Reported 2010s tenants included River Island, Burton, Wallis, Next and Dorothy Perkins, giving the centre a strongly mainstream retail profile.

• Food and beverage · 1973

  Food court, cafés and restaurants

  Food and hospitality facilities formed part of the centre’s visitor proposition. The development included cafés, restaurants and a food court, alongside quick-service venues such as Subway. These facilities supported the centre as an everyday destination rather than solely a shopping mall.

• Department store

  John Lewis department store

  John Lewis was the principal anchor retailer associated with St. James Centre. Unlike the other shops, it remained open during the 2016 transition and was included in plans for refurbishment and integration into the replacement St James development.

• Specialty retail

  Sports and entertainment retail

  The centre also hosted specialist retailers serving sports, music, games and related entertainment categories. Examples reported during the 2010s included Sports Direct, JD Sports, HMV and GAME.

• 2016

  Close the centre for demolitionStrategy

  Background

  The approved replacement scheme required the existing shopping centre to be vacated and demolished.

  Action taken

  Most stores closed during 2016, while an arrangement allowed John Lewis to continue trading through the construction period.

  Aftermath

  St. James Centre closed permanently on 16 October 2016 and was demolished for the replacement development.

  Source

• 2015

  Approve full redevelopment of the existing centreStrategy

  Background

  The owners pursued replacement of the 1970s shopping centre and adjacent former government-office and hotel sites rather than retaining the existing complex.

  Action taken

  Edinburgh City Council approved an approximately £850 million mixed-use redevelopment designed around a new crescent-shaped, glass-roofed retail building.

  Aftermath

  The approval enabled closure, demolition and construction of the replacement St James Quarter, although conservation groups objected over potential effects on Edinburgh’s historic setting.

  Reported redevelopment value. £850 million (2015 planning approval)

  Source

1. 1St. James Centreen.wikipedia.org