Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village in West Calder opened in 1996 with designer brands like Calvin Klein and Versace but closed in 2004 after nearby rival outlet caused footfall to decline
A shopping centre that launched with considerable excitement when it opened, drawing thousands of shoppers each week, is now a sad, deserted “ghost town” that’s gradually being overtaken by nature.
Urban explorer “Bearded Reality” visited the abandoned Five Sisters Freeport Shopping Village in West Calder, Scotland, which now serves as a stark testament to evolving consumer behaviour. “This place is insane,” he said.
Speaking of the shopping centre which first opened its doors in 1996, the YouTuber said: “Honestly, you can’t believe it’s been left.”
During its heyday, the 50,000-square-foot development boasted major high-street names including Calvin Klein, DKNY, Versace, and Levi’s. It also contained two cafés, two restaurants, and a “Leisureland” facility that included an entertainment centre and go-karts.
However, the transformation of retail, with increasing numbers of consumers turning to online shopping, combined with the launch of the neighbouring Livingston Designer Outlet in 2000, led to visitor numbers at Five Sisters plummeting dramatically.
Within 12 months of the competing outlet launching, the majority of stores at Five Sisters had shut down. The handful that survived ran clearance sales before also closing their doors. By 2004, Freeport Leisure determined it was time to shut the centre permanently, ending the entire venture.
Chairman of Freeport, Sean Collidge, acknowledged at the time that the arrival of the Livingston outlet played a role in their collapse: “This scheme was 100% let when it opened in 1996 and had four tremendous years. Then retail in Scotland became overpopulated in the central belt.”
Five Sisters was last utilised as the setting for a 2015 BBC Three reality game show, I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse, which saw contestants hiding from the “undead” as they raced to complete tasks.
When Bearded Reality visited the sprawling site, just off the M8 motorway, he discovered all 40 of its shops boarded up. There was scant evidence that Five Sisters had once been a thriving retail and leisure destination.
Whilst one fire door had been left open, it only provided access to a small, sealed-off area, and entry to the broader shopping centre proved impossible.
Although Five Sisters has been shut for over 20 years – more than twice as long as it was actually in operation – CCTV cameras and a security guard still prevent unauthorised members of the public from entering.
In 2021, West Lothian Council rejected a proposal to repurpose the land as a housing estate, although officials said they were keen to see the site redeveloped.
A council spokesperson said at the time: “The redevelopment or reuse of Westwood (Freeport), near West Calder, which previously operated as a factory outlet centre, is supported by the council.
“Leisure and tourist uses, specialised employment, starter units (Class 4), or institutional uses appropriate to a rural location will be supported.
“Some element of new or extended building outside the development envelope on-site and/or housing (very low density, with a maximum of 30 houses, meriting a rural location, all confined to the development envelope) will be considered where this is shown to be necessary for the financial viability of an appropriate scheme.”