Everything about Brent Cross totally explained
Brent Cross (also know as Brent X) in
London is best known as the first
shopping centre of its kind to be built in the
UK. Situated on the
North Circular between the southern terminus of the
M1 motorway and the
Brent Cross Flyover in the
London Borough of Barnet and taking its name from the
River Brent which runs through the site.
When some scenes for the
James Bond file
Tomorrow Never Dies had to be re-shot, Brent Cross car park was used. Warning notices were placed around the mall to prevent shoppers from panicking at the sounds of gunfire and explosions.
History
It was the first experiment in this style of shopping experience in the UK when it opened in 1976 and was initially constructed in an
I shape parallel to the North Circular, with the two largest stores being placed at each end. Subsequent expansion starting in 1995 saw the open parking areas to the north replaced by further shops and multi-storey parking giving the present inverted
T shape. Although small by the standards of more recent shopping complexes such as
Meadowhall,
Bluewater and the
Metro Centre in
Gateshead it suffers from site area limitations having been built within the conurbation rather than out-of-town. The centre became a 'No
Smoking' area on
1 January 2002.
Advertising
Brent Cross was advertised by agency Baber Smith with a "Feed Your Addiction" campaign. Under head of marketing
Norman J Black, between 2002 and 2006 Brent Cross won 11 awards for its marketing, events and promotional activities.
Every December BXFM (Brent X FM) broadcasts to the local area on 87.7FM, in addition to the shopping centre itself. The radio station features Brent Cross news and promotions, music and travel updates every 15 minutes.
"Development Framework" plan
On
5 January 2004, Barnet London Borough Council approved a "Development Framework" plan to expand Brent Cross into adjacent land formerly used for offices and to regenerate
Hendon and
Cricklewood. The plans are jointly promoted by the
Greater London Authority and the local council. In 2006, the centre announced plans to start charging for car parking sometime in 2007, although this seems to have been quietly dropped after fierce opposition. Brent Cross currently offers 8,000 free parking spaces.
Transport
The nearest London Underground station is on the
Northern Line and was renamed from Brent to
Brent Cross tube station when the centre opened. The station is about a 10 minute walk from Brent Cross shopping centre, however the shopping centre is possibly equidistant from
Hendon Central station. Neither tube station is a particularly easy walk from the shopping centre, however, due to the number of motorways and A-roads intersecting in the area. Despite their names, neither the tube station nor the shopping centre are located in the
London Borough of Brent.
The shopping centre also has its own bus station, open 24 hours and serving 13 routes around north London and the West End.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Brent Cross'.
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