Westgate shopping center expansion approved

Westgate Shopping Center’s planned £400m expansion has received final approval and this clears the road for work to commence in the new year.

The current multi-storey car park will be replaced with a new shopping complex and the mall building on Bonn Square will undergo refurbishment.

Westgate Oxford Alliance, the developers, stated that the 800000ft² development will house a John Lewis over three floors, a Curzon cinema and about 70 new stores.  The new development will create around 3400 jobs, with planned construction commencement early next year, and completion in the autumn of 2017.

The developers are extremely excited about the approval and stated that Westgate as it stands has been an embarrassment for a long period of time.  They said it will boost the economy of the city and create employment opportunities for young people.

It has been three decades since the first submission of plans during 1999.  The new plans include three big buildings, which will be connected by bridges and a block comprising of 59 homes.

The entrance at Bonn Square is due for redesign and will feature a curved stone wall with a lantern placed atop, as well as a rooftop terrace on the buildings.  There will be sufficient underground parking for 1100 vehicles.  During construction, parking will be available at the car park next to the Oxford Ice Rink and at Osney Lane.