WHERE has the time gone? This month Lakeside celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Opened in 1990 by Princess Alexandra, after who the centre’s lake was named, Lakeside has since become one of the UK’s leading shopping centre’s, attracting over 25 million visitors per year.

Construction began in 1988 on the site of an old quarry and the original building housed 250 stores and occupied two million square feet. Today Lakeside is also home to a cinema, diving school and soon a Travelodge.

There are also exciting plans in the pipe work for Lakeside to become even big-ger and better over the next few years.

The centre recently received outline planning permission for a £100m leisure development, in addition to outline planning consent for a £180m investment that will include the addition of 438,000 sq ft of retail space, increasing its size by nearly a third and incorporating up to 40 new stores.

Over the last 25 years Lakeside has housed some of the nation’s favourite brands. Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer were among the original anchor stores, which now includes Primark.

There have been numerous landmark moments for Lakeside over the years in-cluding a baby being born at the shopping centre in January 2014 plus the Boardwalk development opening in 2007.

Then there’s the celebrities who visit each year. Names including Sir Cliff Richard, Denise Van Outen, Olly Murs, JLS, One Direction and Katie Price have all visited.

It takes a dedicated team of over 200 staff members to ensure that intu Lakeside remains Essex’s premier shopping centre.

Donna Callander, from the centre, said: “Lakeside is special to work for be-cause it’s like working for a family. “There are so many people who are so passionate about the centre, the customers and the retailers, that they truly live and breathe the centre. It’s all about teamwork!”