{{short description|Shopping and entertainment centre in London}} {{About||other uses|The O2|and|O2 (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} {{EngvarB|date=December 2020}} {{infobox shopping mall | name = O2 Centre | image = {{Photomontage | photo1a = O2 Centre, Finchley Road (geograph 4931381).jpg | alt1a = | photo2a = Finchley Road O2 centre, June 2021.jpg | alt2a = | size = 230 | spacing = 0 | border = 0 }} | caption = Top to bottom: East and front side of the O2 Centre. | logo = O2 Centre logo.svg | logo_width = 100px | location = 255 [[Finchley Road]], [[London]] | coordinates = {{Coord|51.5480|-0.1816|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | opening_date = {{Start date and age|1998|df=yes}} | owner = [[Landsec]] | architect = [[HOK (firm)|HOK International]] | parking = 518 cars | website = {{url|https://o2centre.co.uk}}}}
The '''O2 Centre''' is an indoor shopping and entertainment centre located on [[Finchley Road]] in north-west [[London]], near [[Hampstead]], England.
Designed by [[HOK (firm)|HOK International]] and opened in 1998,<ref name="RaifordBuildings">{{Cite journal |last=Raiford |first=Regina |date=October 1999 |title=Take a breather |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/210233139 |journal=Buildings |location=Nashville |publisher=[[Endeavor Business Media]] |volume=93 |issue=10 |page=62-66 |oclc=1537672 |id={{ProQuest|210233139}} |url-access=subscription}}</ref> it is now owned by [[Landsec]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.egi.co.uk/news/landsec-confims-purchase-of-o2-centre/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |work=[[Estates Gazette]]|title=LandSec confims purchase of O2 Centre|date=2010-04-12}}</ref> Despite the same name and originally very similar logo, it is no relation to the [[O2 (United Kingdom)|O2 telecommunications brand]], which was launched four years later.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BT denies conflict in O2 name |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/bt-denies-conflict-o2-name/14454?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2024-08-07 |work=[[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]] |date=2001-09-04 |language=en |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821050219/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/bt-denies-conflict-o2-name/14454 |url-status=live }}</ref> The name was chosen as reference to the spacious feel of the building, as O<sub>2</sub> is the [[chemical formula]] for [[dioxygen]].
== History == {{stack|1= {{Multiple image |image1 = O2 Centre original site map (1957).svg |caption1 = The pre-development O2 Centre site with the modern boundary marked in red (1957) |image2 = O2 Centre original site aerial (1946).jpg |caption2 = The same site in a 1946 [[RAF]] [[aerial photo]] |direction = vertical }}}} === Development === The opening of the centre in 1998 came after many years of the site remaining derelict. In the early 1990s, the buildings along [[Finchley Road]] were demolished in preparation for the centre, but problems with planning permission, with concerns over traffic in particular, led to construction being delayed by many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://planningrecords.camden.gov.uk/Northgate/Redirection/redirect.aspx?linkid=EXDC&PARAM0=42326|title=Land to the rear of 241-279 Finchley Road, NW3 – 9501238R2|year=1996|website=Planning Portal|publisher=[[Camden London Borough Council]]|access-date=7 August 2024|archive-date=7 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807143123/https://planningrecords.camden.gov.uk/Northgate/Redirection/redirect.aspx?linkid=EXDC&PARAM0=42326|url-status=live}}</ref> A great deal of consultation took place with local residents, including asking them to vote from a choice of 3 designs for the exterior of the building, relating to different kinds of periodic elements – and asking them to suggest a name.{{cn|date=October 2023}} The O2 Centre opened with London's largest branch of [[Sainsbury's]] at the time,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Sue |date=1998-12-13 |title=Restaurants: Table talk |language=en |pages=38 |work=[[The Observer]] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/250354995 |id={{ProQuest|250354995}} |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 October 2023 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821050219/https://www.proquest.com/docview/250354995 |url-status=live }}</ref> and a [[Warner Village Cinemas|Warner Village]] cinema (now [[Vue International|Vue]]). ''[[The Observer]]'' reported in 1999 that, at the time, the building was "quiet" and that "people don't seem to know it's there".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lane |first=Harriet |date=1999-01-24 |title=Fancy a film tonight? |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/jan/24/harrietlane |access-date=2023-10-20 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821050346/https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/jan/24/harrietlane |url-status=live }}</ref>
The centre was originally developed by the [[Burford Group]] and [[Capital & Regional]]'s [[X-Leisure]] fund,<ref name="RaifordBuildings" /> who had joint ownership. In 2004, X-Leisure bought out Burford's share for £25 million (about £{{inflation|UK-GDP|25|start_year=2004}} million in {{inflation/year|UK-GDP}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=X-Leisure buys rest of O2 mall |url=https://www.retail-week.com/x-leisure-buys-rest-of-o2-mall/1713541.article |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Retail Week |language=en |date=2004-08-06 |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807143124/https://www.retail-week.com/x-leisure-buys-rest-of-o2-mall/1713541.article |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-29 |title=X-Leisure takes sole ownership of O2 Centre |url=https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/news/X-Leisure-takes-sole-ownership-of-02-Centre/8624 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Leisure Opportunities |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807143124/https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/news/X-Leisure-takes-sole-ownership-of-02-Centre/8624 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{better source|date=August 2024}} X-Leisure itself was bought out by [[Landsec]] in 2013,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Monaghan |first=Angela |date=2013-09-19 |title=Property company Land Securities takes 95% control of X-Leisure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/19/land-securities-xleisure-xscape-indoor-ski-slopes |access-date=2024-08-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821050220/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/19/land-securities-xleisure-xscape-indoor-ski-slopes |url-status=live }}</ref> but not before it had sold off the O2 Centre to property partnership Matterhorn Capital in 2009 for £92.5 million (about £{{inflation|UK-GDP|92.5|start_year=2009}} million in {{inflation/year|UK-GDP}}).<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2009-04-13 |title=London Mixed-Use Property Acquired |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/197796678 |journal=Real Estate Finance and Investment |location=London |issn=1529-6644 |id={{ProQuest|197796678}} |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 August 2024 |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807143127/https://www.proquest.com/docview/197796678 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-12 |title=O2 centre bought by local millionaire 'boys' |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21391775.02-centre-bought-local-millionaire-boys/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Ham & High |language=en |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807143125/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21391775.02-centre-bought-local-millionaire-boys/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One year later, Landsec bought back the O2 Centre from Matterhorn for £126 million (about £{{inflation|UK-GDP|126|start_year=2010}} million in {{inflation/year|UK-GDP}}).<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2010-04-19|title=LandSec buys O2 Centre|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/224175179|at=News: in brief|journal=EuroProperty|location=Sutton|issn=0961-9712|id={{ProQuest|224175179}}|url-access=subscription|access-date=20 August 2024|archive-date=7 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807143128/https://www.proquest.com/docview/224175179|url-status=live}}</ref>
The original £15m budget for the build was exceeded in early 1997, causing a temporary delay in the build until additional capital investors could be found.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
The centre contains a Sainsbury's, [[Aldi]], [[Vue International|Vue Cinema]], [[Virgin Active]], [[Waterstones]], as well as a [[Nandos]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shops at The O2 Centre|url=https://o2centre.co.uk/shops|access-date=2023-10-20|website=O2 Centre|archive-date=21 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021111542/https://o2centre.co.uk/shops|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Proposed closure === In November 2020, following the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]], [[Landsec]] announced it intended to sell over £4bn of assets in the next four to five years.<ref name="Kollewe-10Nov2020">{{cite news |last1=Kollewe |first1=Julia |title=Land Securities writes almost £1bn off property portfolio |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/10/land-securities-property-portfolio-dividend-piccadilly-bluewater-half-year-pre-tax-loss |access-date=19 November 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821050221/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/10/land-securities-property-portfolio-dividend-piccadilly-bluewater-half-year-pre-tax-loss |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2020, Landsec announced it would be closing the O2 Centre, which would be demolished for 1,800 new homes to be built, with some retail included, in the future. In March 2023, the first phase of the redevelopment plans were approved by the [[Camden London Borough Council]]'s [[Planning permission in the United Kingdom|local planning authority]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/the-o2-centre-faces-demolition|title=The O2 shopping centre faces demolition|website=[[Camden New Journal]]|access-date=3 May 2022|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124015422/https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/the-o2-centre-faces-demolition|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Masterplan>{{cite web |title=The O2 Masterplan – 2022/0528/P |url=https://planningrecords.camden.gov.uk/NECSWS/Redirection/redirect.aspx?linkid=EXDC&PARAM0=582950 |website=Planning Portal |publisher=[[Camden London Borough Council]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=First phase of 02 Centre development approved after marathon planning meeting |url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/first-phase-of-02-centre-development-approved-despite-fierce-objections-in-marathon-council-meeting |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Camden New Journal |language=en-gb |archive-date=21 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021111542/https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/first-phase-of-02-centre-development-approved-despite-fierce-objections-in-marathon-council-meeting |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Transport == The closest [[London Underground]] station to the centre is [[Finchley Road tube station|Finchley Road]], 100 yards south. [[Finchley Road & Frognal railway station|Finchley Road & Frognal station]] served by the [[North London Line|London Overground]] is a short walk away while [[West Hampstead Thameslink railway station]], [[West Hampstead railway station]] and [[West Hampstead tube station]] are also in close proximity, accessed by walking along B510 [[West End Lane]], to Blackburn Road to connect to a pedestrian and cycle path to the car park, next to the Homebase.
There are several bus and coach routes that stop right outside the O2 Centre including [[London Buses route 13|13]], [[London Buses route 113|113]], [[London Buses route 187|187]] and [[London Buses route 268|268]]. Also close by on West End Lane are [[London Buses route C11|C11]], [[London Buses route 31|31]], [[London Buses route 46|46]], [[London Buses route 139|139]], [[London Buses route 328|328]] and 603 bus stops. Local night buses are [[London Buses route N113|N113]].
The redevelopment plans include a proposal to add a new entrance from the site to the Finchley Road tube station, potentially including making the station fully accessible.<ref name=Masterplan/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official|http://www.o2centre.co.uk/}} * [https://planningrecords.camden.gov.uk/NECSWS/Redirection/redirect.aspx?linkid=EXDC&PARAM0=582950 Original planning application] at [[London Borough of Camden]]
{{Landsec}} {{Shopping centres in London}}
[[Category:Shopping centres in the London Borough of Camden]] [[Category:Swiss Cottage]] [[Category:Shopping malls established in 1998]] [[Category:1998 establishments in England]]