TWO major redevelopments vital for the future of Oxford have reached intriguing stages but it is time that both moved forward. And quickly.

Oxford Brookes University has unveiled its latest rejigged design for a new £150m campus in Headington, asking protesters to back it or potentially face having the old, unpopular plan built instead.

Meanwhile, Oxford City Council’s latest idea to save the stalled Westgate in these straitened times is not to downsize but go bigger.

Brookes is to be commended for once again redrawing its plans.

Originally it was proposing a six-storey building, before taking it down a level above ground and putting in a basement.

Neighbours complained it would still be obtrusive – so Brookes has ‘shrunk’ it again, revealing a building with four storeys above ground and a basement.

It is hoping protesters will also enter the spirit of compromise. If not, it reasons, it might as well go to appeal on the plan turned down by Oxford City Council.

Brookes needs to expand, so hopefully compromise will prevail.

On the Westgate, the city council has accepted that the original scheme is uneconomic – but looking to enlarge it is optimistic.

We can only hope this latest idea is built on firm foundations because if it too stalls, Oxford’s reputation as a retail destination will lie in tatters.