Cumbernauld's new £40m Antonine Shopping Centre opens its doors to the public today (Wednesday 6 June) as the new town celebrates its 50th birthday.

The 350,000 sq ft development will be opened by North Lanarkshire Provost Thomas Curley at 10.30am today. Entertainment will be provided by the Kilsyth Pipe Band and re-enactment society the Antonine Guard – like the centre, named after a Roman wall to the north of Cumbernauld.

The new centre has been developed by London and Regional Properties, designed by architects Keppie Design and built by Dawn Construction. With more than 40 shops and 3000 town centre parking spaces, it is estimated the Antonine Centre will create 600 jobs and already 300 local people have found employment in the centre.

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North Lanarkshire Provost, councillor Tom Curley, said: "The Antonine Shopping Centre is the result of years of planning and partnership working between North Lanarkshire Council and London & Regional Properties. The work and the commitment shown by the many people involved cannot be under-estimated, and the creation of almost 600 jobs bears this out. It's a real pleasure to see the centre opening during the town's 50th anniversary year, and I congratulate London and Regional Properties, Campsies Centre Cumbernauld Ltd and all their partners on the very great success of all their efforts."

Now 80 per cent-let, shops include: the flagship 43,000 sq ft Dunnes Stores; Next; TK Maxx and Woolworths. In addition, River Island, Dorothy Perkins, Henderson The Jewellers, FOPP, Costa Coffee, Holland & Barrett, Thorntons, Barratts and Boots. There are also food outlets including Subway, Costa Coffee and O'Briens.

Antonine Shopping Centre manager Karen Johnston said: "This is a very exciting time to work, live and shop in Cumbernauld. The Antonine Centre will complement the existing shops already in the town by bringing in major High Street names that have never been here before."

The new centre forms part of a phased development of Cumbernauld town centre, facilitated by Campsies Centre Cumbernauld Ltd (CCCL). January 2004 saw the completion of the first phase of the more-than 100,000 sq. ft. Tesco store development, a near-£20m investment, which has brought 300 extra jobs to Cumbernauld.

(CD)