The White Rose Centre is a shopping centre in the Beeston area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It spans two floors and is near the M621 motorway. It takes its name from the White Rose of York, the traditional symbol of Yorkshire. The Upper Level houses the centre's food court as well some retail outlets. The centre has 4,800 free car parking spaces, security and on-site Police officers. Although the centre is smaller than other out-of-town shopping centres, it has attracted large retailers such as Next and Marks and Spencer. The centre opened on 25 March 1997 and accommodates major tenants including Sainsbury's, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Next, W H Smith, Topshop, Primark, Zara, H&M, and over 100 other stores and services. The south part of the centre was re-developed in 2005 downsizing the Sainsbury's Savacentre to a regular Sainsbury's which made space for other units. The centre has a bus station at the north end of Debenhams connecting it to suburban areas of Leeds and to the city centre. To coincide with its tenth year of trading the White Rose Centre was rebranded. Its logo, advertising, signage and staff uniforms were redesigned. The branding and strategic marketing campaign won a BCSC Purple Apple award. The centre is managed and mainly by Land Securities and Evans of Leeds. It has also won awards including a British Council of Shopping Centre's Gold Award, BCSC Purple apple, and Green apple awards.
Construction
The site covers and was formerly the Morley Sewage works. Before building work began in 1995, enabling works including removing the sewage works, sealing disused mine shafts, removing contaminated soil and profiling the sloping site, were carried out. It required moving 750,000 cubic metres of soil to grade a 30-metre fall across the site and create level terraces for the structure and car parks. Work commenced on the 87-week project on 10 July 1995 and by September the first steelwork was visible. 600 semi-mature, seven-metre-high trees were purchased from Germany and planted in the car park to provide landscaping. Five thousand trees and shrubs have been planted around the car parks and perimeter roads.
Dining
The Balcony Food Court takes up most of the upper floor in the central atrium. It includes McDonald's, KFC, Subway, Spud-u-like, Bagel Nash, Juice, Nando's, Frankie & Benny's and Pizza Express plus a number of other food outlets In 2015 the White Rose extended the entrance to the upper level between car park 4 and 5 which created 3 new restaurants which have changed since opening. The Balcony leads to a newly constructed area of the centre known as The Village. This includes further eateries namely Pizza Hut, Five Guys, Limeyard, Wagamama, Chiquito and TGI Friday's.
Community
The White Rose Centre is involved in a number of social welfare activities in the local area. Older people are able to participate in mall walking within the covered environment. It houses the White Rose Learning Centre run in conjunction with Education Leeds and Leeds City College to provide dance classes and other educational activities for children at risk of exclusion from school in an informal environment. The Quiet Room in the Upper Circle is available for use by all patrons and staff during the Centre opening hours.
Criticisms
One criticism of the centre is the width of the malls which are narrow. Another criticism is the lack of a railway station, despite the centre's proximity to the Huddersfield and Wakefield railway lines, but plans to add a station have been developed.
Extension
In 2015 the White Rose extended the entrance to the upper level between car park 4 and 5 which created 3 new restaurants as well leading to the balcony and a new entrance to what will be the village later on. In 2017 a £25 million extension was completed and named 'The Village'. It included an 11 screen IMAXCineworld Cinema, and new restaurants, Pizza Hut, Chiquito, Wagamama, Five Guys, Limeyard and TGI Friday's. A children's outdoor play area opened in 'The Village' in 2018.
