RESIDENTS and community leaders have given their immediate reactions to the latest vision for the West Way shopping centre.

On Saturday images were released that showed the new vision of the shopping centre in Botley, including a hotel, 149 new homes, student accommodation and 22 new retail units.

Reverend Kalyan Das, minister at the Botley Baptist Church in Westminster Way, hailed it as a “great plan for the community”.

The Baptist Church, along with the 15th Oxford Scouts, will have new facilities in the planned community hub.

He added: “We think it is a great plan, well thought out. It addresses a lot of the needs of the community. We are not a holy huddle, we are a church that is involved in the community and we would love to be able to keep that going.”

But not everyone agreed with the “convenience-led” multi-million pound scheme produced by developer Mace.

A major concern for residents is the height of some of the buildings in the development.

Mary Gill, co-chairwoman of West Way Community Concern, said: “From the feedback we have received it is the height and size of these buildings that is going to be a main concern. Most of the buildings will be higher than the existing buildings on the site.

“People have not got an objection to accommodation, but it is the whole size of it, it is still too big.

“We would like to see a good development on the site which means we would be happy to address concerns of the community.

“I do not think that an outright rejection will be helpful to anybody.”

Andy Brock, an occupant in Elms Parade, said: “They keep telling me it is going to be fantastic for me and it is not.

“How can I survive three years of building and demolition work?

“And if anyone can explain to me how I can get 500 customers a week I would appreciate it.”

The new plans follow original designs put forward by developers Mace and Doric combined, which were thrown out by Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning committee in December 2014.