THE £400m overhaul of the Westgate Shopping Centre was given final approval last night, clearing the way for work to begin in the new year.

The scheme will refurbish the mall building off Bonn Square and bulldoze the existing multi-storey car park, building a new shopping complex in its place.

Developer Westgate Oxford Alliance said the 800,000 sq ft development would include a three-storey John Lewis store, a five-screen Curzon cinema and about 70 new shops. It is expected to create 3,400 jobs, with construction due to begin early next year and finish in autumn 2017.

Last night Oxford City Council’s west area planning committee approved the plans by eight votes to one at a specially convened meeting in Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s.

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Westgate Oxford Alliance development manager Sara Fuge said: “We are delighted with the positive decision from Oxford City Council.

She added: “Tonight is the culmination of nearly five years of work. We want to wow visitors to Oxford.”

City council leader Bob Price said: “It is a very important step and really it will create a new quarter of Oxford.

“The other thing is how important this is for the city’s economy. This is a really good employment opportunity for young people.

“The current Westgate has been an embarrassment for far too long.”

Only Green councillor Elise Benjamin, who represents Iffley Fields, voted against the scheme.

Extra conditions applied to the development included one to monitor air quality and another to look again at the height of surrounding walls.

Recently elected ward councillor for Carfax, Alex Hollingsworth said: “It is nice as a newly returned councillor to see an idea described years ago in a moody car park come to fruition.

“This is a gigantic improvement on what is there now.”

The motion to approve the scheme was proposed by Councillor John Tanner and seconded by leader Bob Price.

Oxford Preservation Trust had urged the committee not to approve it.

The go-ahead ended a saga that has spanned the last three decades, after Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) first submitted similar plans in 1999.

The new plans will comprise three large buildings connected by a series of bridges and one block of 59 homes.

The Bonn Square entrance will be redesigned to feature a curved stone wall with a lantern on top and the buildings will include a rooftop terrace. There will also be two storeys of underground parking for 1,100 cars.

During construction, a 420-space temporary multi-storey car park next to Oxford Ice Rink will be used, as well as a 150-space area at Osney Lane.

TIMELINE: CENTRE'S LONG SAGA

  • 1972: The £1.8m Westgate Shopping Centre opens
  • 1988: Proposals to extend the centre by 23,200 sq m are submitted by CIN Properties and Arrowcroft, but are thrown out
  • 1999: Artists’ impressions of Capital Shopping Centres’ (CSC) £220m revamped mall are unveiled
  • 2000: Oxford City Council approves the Westgate extension application
  • 2001: City council’s decision to grant permission is “called in” by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and a public inquiry is held. A planning inspector recommends approval
  • 2002: Mr Prescott throws out CSC’s refurbishment plans
  • 2003: The city council appeals and Mr Prescott’s decision is quashed in the High Court. CSC later withdraws its application
  • 2006: CSC submits fresh plans for the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre
  • 2009: It is announced the new centre would open in 2014
  • 2013: The Westgate Oxford Alliance signs development agreement with the city council
  • March 2014: The scheme for the £400m redevelopment of the Westgate centre is approved in principle by the city council
  • October 2014: Final plans for the redevelopment are submitted in full and made public
  • November 2014: The plans are considered at a special meeting of the west area planning committee and approved.

 


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