N OBODY should doubt the desire of all involved to do something about our outdated and unloved Westgate Centre.
A bright, modern development packed with the best in retail – including John Lewis – is what we have been promised for years.
But as we report today, yet another hurdle has been thrown in the way as the city council and the consortium that wants to redevelop the site conduct a spat over money.
It has been triggered by the city’s likely demand for what is now grandly known as the Community Infrastructure Tax in addition to Section 106 cash.
Under the old arrangement, the only fee the developers would have paid towards infrastructure and other initiatives – known as Section 106 funding – would have been in the millions. Now with the Community Infrastructure Levy – a newly devised developer taxation – the overall contribution will cost an extra £3.4million.
An understandable dispute, but just the latest to hit the ill-fated scheme.
Until the uncertainty is removed and the squabbling stops, this is going nowhere fast. Unlike the shoppers, who are heading to Reading, Birmingham and all points of the shopping compass.
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