St Giles Centre, Elgin – a timeline

July 1987: Plans for the St Giles Shopping Centre were unveiled to the public. The development, led by Sheraton Caltrust, aimed to incorporate the façades of existing buildings to preserve the architectural heritage of the area.

April 1990: Developers anticipated completing the Centre by September 1990. However, progress was hindered when the developers went into receivership, causing delays.

November 15, 1991: The St Giles Centre officially opened its doors, though initially without any tenants. The first shop commenced operations in February 1992.

October 2016: The Centre celebrated its 25th anniversary with a photographic exhibition showcasing the development of Elgin’s city centre from Victorian times to the present day.

January 2022: Structural defects were identified in the concrete supports of the Centre’s car park, leading to the closure of the upper three levels. This reduction decreased available parking spaces from 270 to 93.

January 2025: The Centre faced significant financial challenges, including high vacancy rates and increasing service charge costs. Additionally, there was an accumulation of unpaid business rates amounting to approximately £750,000. Consequently, businesses within the St Giles Centre were notified of the intention to close the premises by January 20, 2025.