AN APPLICATION has been submitted to partially demolish a shopping centre in Oxford City Centre.

An application to partly demolish the Clarendon Centre on Cornmarket in the city centre has been validated and received by Oxford City Council was submitted yesterday.

The application seeks to knock down the 1980's shopping centre, and replace its new buildings to provide retail and office spaces.

It also seeks to create a space for student accommodation, and a research and development centre.

But this is not the first time the Claredon Centre has been demolished - the origianal building, that had existed from the 19th century, was first knocked down in 1954.

It has had a long, complex history, with lots of changing of hands:

  • Pre-1863: The Star Coaching Inn occupied the site for 400 years until 1863
  • 1863: The Star was acquired by the Oxford Hotel Company and renamed The Clarendon 
  • 1939: The Clarendon site was purchased by Woolworth & Co.
  • 1954: The Clarendon demolished
  • 1957: New Woolworth's store opens 
  • 1983: The Woolworth's store was developed along with the rise of the site into The Clarendon Centre
  • 1984: The Clarendon Centre opens anchored by Littlewoods
  • 2000: The Clarendon Centre undergoes refurbishment with GAP introduced 
  • 2004: Zara becomes centre anchor
  • 2011: New H&M store constructed and opens
  • 2017: Westgate Centre opens
  • 2018: TK Maxx anchors centre