The Mercat Shopping Centre

Kirkcaldy Town council considered a controversial redevelopment of Kirkcaldy town centre in January 1964, which was only passed by a narrow margin, after a fiercely contested public inquiry. A plot of land situated between the High Street and the Esplanade was purchased in April 1964 for demolition as the new site of the shopping centre.^[4] This would entail building over four streets, which would then disappear - Market Street, Cowan Street, Rose Street and Thistle Street.^[5]

Construction of the shopping centre was supposed to commence building work in Autumn 1967, but the project was delayed until the early 1970s.^[4] Work finally began on the first phase of The Mercat in 1971 – and buildings numbered from 94–112 in the High Street, including the reputed birthplace of Adam Smith, were demolished.^[6] This was to contain initially 29 units, a major department store and one multi-storey car park - for completion in 1972.^[6][7]

The success of the Mercat prompted an extension which was given the green light in 1978.^[8] The extension dubbed "Mercat II" was built, alongside a second multi-storey car park, by Michael Laird and Partners between 1981 and 1983. The car park, despite only being two-storey, was known for presenting a deep roof, identical dormers and separated wrought-iron inserts on the wall.^[9]