CONSTRUCTION work started at last this week on the massive £30m Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury, writes David Duffy.

A new Debenhams store will be the mainstay of the long-awaited new centre, with Bhs and Woolworths joining Marks & Spencer, Boots, Somerfield and WH Smith under the same roof.

Other shops already signed up the for the centre include Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Top Shop and Burton.

The start of work comes just days after Debenhams disclosed it would be spending £35m on redeveloping its store in Magdalen Street, Oxford.

The Banbury development, bordering the Oxford Canal, includes 40 new shops, a new bus station and nearly 1,000 new parking spaces. It was delayed by the eighties property recession and legal wrangles.

The 257,000 sq ft Castle Quay complex will extend Raglan Properties' existing Castle Centre to create a single 382,0000 sq ft site. It is expected to open early in 2000.

Raglan's development manager Richard Cannacott said: "I am absolutely delighted to announce the start of Castle Quay. "It will transform retailing in Banbury by bringing business to Banbury and providing the shopping attraction to bring back many of the town's shoppers who are currently attracted to centres much further afield."

Grahame Handley, chief executive of Cherwell District Council which owns the freehold of the site, said the new centre would serve far more than just the town.

He said: "The new stores, and in particular the Debenhams department store, will enable it to function as a regional centre serving north Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

"The new centre, followed by other major investments in entertainment and heritage, marks the beginning of a major period of prosperity for the town."

The work will begin at the bus station, so the Debenhams store can be started as soon as possible.

Castle Street will be extended to link with the Cherwell Street roundabout to improve traffic flow and bring shoppers directly into Castle Quay's new car parks.

The centre has been designed by architects Lyons Sleeman Hoare and is being built by Bryant Construction. Letting agents are Knight Frank and Healey & Baker.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.