THE new £440m Westgate shopping centre could attract 15 million visitors each year and will boost business around the city, it has been claimed.

Yesterday the Oxford Mail was given a tour of the £440m centre ahead of its opening in October and we can reveal more details about the much-anticipated development.

The centre’s development manager Sara Fuge reassured independents and smaller businesses outside the development that the imminent Westgate would benefit everyone.

She said: “The Westgate could bring in up to 15 million visitors each year and it will really benefit the whole of Oxford “We want people to stay in Oxford once they come in, we want them to go to the smaller independents and the Covered Market - a rising tide lifts all boats.”

The shopping areas themselves will be split with the area surrounding the flagship John Lewis store, containing shops such as Ted Baker, Hugo Boss and Charles Tyrwhitt.

While on the upper level there will be a collection of larger fashion outlets, including Next and Primark.

It was also revealed it would be an open air development with parts of the centre open 24 hours a day.

Project director Neil Read said this would make it feel part of the city itself and encourage people to explore the rest of Oxford.

He said: “From a city perspective we wanted to extend the urban streetscape and the public realm in Oxford.

“One of the biggest challenges was to open up the east to west link through the city that the previous centre and its car park had closed off.

“We want people to feel as welcome walking through at two in the morning as they do at two in the afternoon - it’ll be 24/7 access.”

Land Securities, one half of the Alliance alongside The Crown Estate, were behind Trinity Leeds shopping centre as well as Cabot Circus in Bristol, which both have open layouts.

Many of the restaurants will be on the roof terrace - along Old Greyfriars Street with views across the city’s skyline - Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, The Breakfast Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and restaurant and bar The Alchemist will all be part of the terrace line up.

In between the restaurant seating and the views will be a public seating area.

Nando’s will be separate to the other restaurants next to the five-screen Curzon Cinema.

The opening times of the shops have been shifted to avoid rush hour and make it easier for the 3,000-odd workforce to get the Westgate on time.

Brendan Hattam, the centre’s general manager, said: “Most days the shops will open from 10am until 8pm - it fits in with having restaurants nearby and will avoid the peak traffic in and out of Oxford.

Westgate Oxford Alliance will have a security team working 24 hours a day along with CCTV and have been working closely with Oxford Homeless Pathways in the run up to the opening in October.