THE Kingsgate Centre is celebrating its fifth birthday.

Special events are set to mark the anniversary.

Centre manager Jonathan Hardy said Kingsgate had exceeded all expectations.

He said the centre had gone from strength to strength since it opened.

He added: "The centre has changed quite dramatically from what we set out as. What we have become has exceeded all our expectations.

"We have done what we intended to do and that was to provide high-quality regional shopping for the people of Huddersfield."

Mr Hardy said many major chain stores, such as HMV, had been attracted to the area through the centre, which has just one empty unit.

He said: "We are quietly pleased with the job that we have done and we hope this is reflected in people's perceptions of us.

"We have not tried to be too big or clever."

He said the major focus of the next five years would be Kingsgate Phase 2.

This will see a major expansion of the centre and the demolition of some of the surrounding buildings.

There are three options being put forward by developer WD Huddersfield, which owns the centre.

The first, Kingsgate 2, is the preferred option.

It would provide 120,000sq ft of extra trading space on two floors, including stores of 5,000sq ft to 15,000sq ft.

A hotel would be built on the upper level, with a link to the Kingsgate car park.

The £50m scheme would extend Kingsgate by half.

Kingsgate 2A, valued at £70m, would provide 220,000sq ft of extra trading space.

It would be made up of two large stores and several major shops, as well as a library and leisure complex at the Shore Head corner of the Kingsgate scheme.

It would involve demolishing Oldgate House offices and the Chantry Housing flats.

Kingsgate 2B, at £100m, is the most ambitious scheme and would provide 300,000sq ft of extra trading space.

It would include a large store and several major units, as well as a hotel extending over Kirkgate.

Mr Hardy said much of the land needed had been secured and retailers were lined up to take the available space.

The next step will be to seek planning approval for the development.

He said: "We want to provide a sufficient amount of additional retail to meet the demands of the town.

"People are looking at Huddersfield in a different light, both within the industry and outside it.

"They see it as a hot spot for retail and investment and, with the university, a hot spot academically.

"We are part of a jigsaw that is the town and we are very proud to be part of it."

To mark the centre's birthday there will be a week-long giveaway of cash prizes to customers.

From today until Saturday customers can win cash at the centre by switching on the Bluetooth facility on their mobile phones.

Bluetooth is a type of radio technology which can send files such as pictures, music and video between mobile phones and computers.

It can usually be set to be paired with particular devices for security of sensitive personal data or to protect from unauthorised use of phones if switched on while out and about.

Competition mascot Mr Money will be in the Kingsgate Centre from 10am to 3pm each day.

He will use a device to scan the centre for phones which have their Bluetooth facility switched on.

A phone will be selected at random regularly throughout the day.

A message will be sent to the phone via Bluetooth, letting the owner know that they have won a prize.

They can then claim their prize - from £10 to £50 - from Mr Money.

Mr Hardy said the competition was pioneering. "It is a promotion that hasn't been done before in shopping centres.

"Instead of getting presents for our birthday we will be giving them away."