THE Westgate Centre will be built by construction company Laing O’Rourke, with work due to finish in autumn 2017.

Yesterday it was announced the company will carry out most of the construction work on the shell and core of the new three-storey shopping centre, the 1,000-space underground car park and 61 new homes.

Work is due to begin this spring and during the 30-month contract there will be up to 1,000 construction workers on the site. Demolition of the old multi-storey car park began last week.

The new centre, given final planning approval in November, is expected to create 3,400 jobs.

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It will have a three-storey John Lewis, a fivescreen Curzon cinema, and about 70 new shops.

Westgate Oxford Alliance development director Bert Martin said: “We are delighted to welcome Laing O’Rourke as construction partner for such a significant development.

“Laing O’Rourke’s reputation and expertise, combined with high levels of interest from retailers and leisure operators, contributes to our confidence in Westgate Oxford.”

Laing O’Rourke leader Steve Coleby said: “As the latest major retail development in the UK, Westgate Oxford is an encouragingly strong indicator of economic recovery and returned consumer confidence in the UK.”