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Westgate suffers big delay
WORK to progress the new £330m Westgate Shopping Centre, in Oxford, came to a stop this week as developers abandoned plans for a 2011 opening.
Faced with a prolonged legal challenge, the developers called a halt to preliminary work in the multi-storey car park, which got under way in the autumn.
Westgate Partnerships said it had decided to discontinue, until the outcome of December's planning inquiry into the compulsory purchase of land is known.
The developers believe they will have to wait until the end of May, to discover whether compulsory purchase orders can be served to acquire surrounding land, essential for the scheme to continue.
The whole construction timetable has been completely redrawn. The main contract work, planned to begin this summer, will not now be undertaken until early 2009.
The centre's opening has been put back to the spring of 2012, almost two years after the original opening target date.
Opponents of the scheme accused the developers of seriously underestimating the planning complexities of the scheme.
Oxford city councillor for Carfax, Sushila Dhall, said: "They have been doing preliminary work prior to the outcome of the inquiry.
"Until now, the developers had just assumed that they would get the go-ahead to demolish the housing in Abbey Place. But I think they are no longer prepared to risk any more money, now that they are having to wait for the outcome. It is proving a more complex issue than they had hoped."
She warned that disabled residents in Abbey Place, who face losing their homes, would take their fight to the European Court of Human Rights if the Government planning inspector did not find in their favour.
Simon Ward, spokesman for the Westgate Partnership, played down the significance of the rescheduling.
He said: "By choosing to defer these works until summer 2008, we are providing further time to progress the detailed design and procurement with our preferred contractor Sir Robert McAlpine.
"The Westgate Partnership has always anticipated the need for flexibility due to the complexities of a construction project in an historic city centre and it is not uncommon for alterations to occur to the construction timetable."
Archaeological work in the multi-storey car park has now stopped, along with the long-awaited removal of the derelict Westgate escalators which have been an eyesore for years. But it will mean that 100 car parking spaces lost during the archaeological investigations will be reopened to motorists.
It is not yet known if the planned temporary car park on the west side of Oxford ice rink will be put off. It was due to be operational from January.
Vincent McKeown, who can only communicate by blinking, became a figurehead for people fighting to stay in sheltered housing in Abbey Place when he refused to move to alternative accommodation.
The Government inspector is considering whether to prevent the demolition of the sheltered housing in Abbey Place.
Mr McKeown's solicitor, Kate Waller, said: "I am pleased that the date of the outcome has been put back and the issues are being looked at in more detail. It is sensible for all concerned."
Archaeological work on the car park site had already resulted in the construction programme having to be extended to 50 months.
Further problems arose when clearance work involved the removal of three London Plane trees in Norfolk Street sparked protests. Members of the Oxford Against Westgate Expansion campaign will be holding a protest "party" in the city centre on Saturday afternoon, featuring a Samba band.
Meanwhile, supermarket giant Sainsbury's has confirmed it is looking to switch its central Oxford site because of the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre, which would have department store John Lewis as its cornerstone.
The company is looking at a number of options in the city centre including the former Disney Store on Queen Street to provide it with a temporary home, as its existing store will be part of the revamp.
Sainsbury's has submitted a planning application for the Disney Store site that has been approved.
A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "The Disney Store site is something we are looking at with the development of the Westgate Centre.
"We are examining options for the potential relocation of the existing store as we are keen to maintain a presence in Oxford.But nothing has been confirmed yet and we are looking at all viable options of a similar size within the city."
The Disney Store, situated at the corner of the Westgate centre entrance, has stood empty since February last year.
8:00am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Danny, Oxford on 12:25pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Great news. This shows that the Westgate Partnership can't always get things their own way and trample over the democratic process (as they did with the original pathetic "consultation"). It also gives Oxford residents more time to organise our opposition to the current scheme (a disastrous mega-mall which would increase traffic, flooding risk and climate change emissions) and put together saner, more sustainable alternatives for the site (affordable eco-homes, a proper bus station, a pedestrianised Queen Street, a market place for local traders, public green space etc.). Check out westgatewatch.wordpr
ess.com for the latest news, and come along to Cornmarket on Saturday from midday to join the protest party, sign the new petition and take part in a Real Consultation about the Westgate site!
Great news. This shows that the Westgate Partnership can't always get things their own way and trample over the democratic process (as they did with the original pathetic "consultation"). It also gives Oxford residents more time to organise our opposition to the current scheme (a disastrous mega-mall which would increase traffic, flooding risk and climate change emissions) and put together saner, more sustainable alternatives for the site (affordable eco-homes, a proper bus station, a pedestrianised Queen Street, a market place for local traders, public green space etc.). Check out westgatewatch.wordpr
ess.com for the latest news, and come along to Cornmarket on Saturday from midday to join the protest party, sign the new petition and take part in a Real Consultation about the Westgate site!
Posted by: Dummy, Oxford on 12:53pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Great news. This shows that the fascist rentamob crowd can trample over the democratic process (and ignore the 2 1/2 year consultation involving tens of thousands of Oxford residents). It also gives these transient students more time to organise their opposition to a development that will benefit permanent residents and bring more money into the region, meaning lower council tax rises - which they are exempt from and hence don't care about - and to dream about pie-in-the-sky schemes for eco-homes and zero-carbon-sustaina
ble-wombat-love-ins and so on that they will never, ever present plans for let alone have any hope of implementing.
Come along to Cornmarket on Saturday and see the pathetically small crowd of dreadlocked hippies who don't understand that democracy means "what the majority of people want" (and not "getting your own way every time just like you did with Mummy and Daddy") and take part in a real attempt to derail the democratic process!
Great news. This shows that the fascist rentamob crowd can trample over the democratic process (and ignore the 2 1/2 year consultation involving tens of thousands of Oxford residents). It also gives these transient students more time to organise their opposition to a development that will benefit permanent residents and bring more money into the region, meaning lower council tax rises - which they are exempt from and hence don't care about - and to dream about pie-in-the-sky schemes for eco-homes and zero-carbon-sustaina
ble-wombat-love-ins and so on that they will never, ever present plans for let alone have any hope of implementing.
Come along to Cornmarket on Saturday and see the pathetically small crowd of dreadlocked hippies who don't understand that democracy means "what the majority of people want" (and not "getting your own way every time just like you did with Mummy and Daddy") and take part in a real attempt to derail the democratic process!
Posted by: Fred, Oxford on 1:05pm Fri 28 Mar 08
What a daft response. Firstly, are all the people who live in and around oxford, adequately covered with the current range of shops in Oxford. How many people from Oxford travel to other cities/towns to shop? Those are the questions which should be answered. Because if people are not attracted to the current range of shops and shop else where, we could actually be helping the environment by offering a better range of stores and encouraging people to shop locally. After all I thought this is what environmentalist wants.
What a daft response. Firstly, are all the people who live in and around oxford, adequately covered with the current range of shops in Oxford. How many people from Oxford travel to other cities/towns to shop? Those are the questions which should be answered. Because if people are not attracted to the current range of shops and shop else where, we could actually be helping the environment by offering a better range of stores and encouraging people to shop locally. After all I thought this is what environmentalist wants.
Posted by: Brent, Wantage on 1:09pm Fri 28 Mar 08
We moved to the Oxfordshire area five years ago and were amazed at the poor quality of shops / shopping in Oxford when compared with other cities.
We thought the Westgate development would at least be a move in the right direction and were surprised at how long the consultation process went on for - it gave the impression that locals are happy with their lot and did not want a decent shopping centre as everything seemed to draw opposition. Yes, a new shopping centre will be a change, and yes, there will be massive disruption while it is built.
For us, we will just carry on using Reading / Swindon as our main shopping centres - I somehow doubt the new centre will be built (in whatever form) before we retire and move away!.
We moved to the Oxfordshire area five years ago and were amazed at the poor quality of shops / shopping in Oxford when compared with other cities.
We thought the Westgate development would at least be a move in the right direction and were surprised at how long the consultation process went on for - it gave the impression that locals are happy with their lot and did not want a decent shopping centre as everything seemed to draw opposition. Yes, a new shopping centre will be a change, and yes, there will be massive disruption while it is built.
For us, we will just carry on using Reading / Swindon as our main shopping centres - I somehow doubt the new centre will be built (in whatever form) before we retire and move away!.
Posted by: CB, Oxford on 1:34pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Has anyone walked through Westgate lately, notice all the CLOSING DOWN everything MUST go notices. So unless they stop, there won't be many shops to visit in Westgate... Except Primark (high quality merchandise produced abroad).
Has anyone walked through Westgate lately, notice all the CLOSING DOWN everything MUST go notices. So unless they stop, there won't be many shops to visit in Westgate... Except Primark (high quality merchandise produced abroad).
Posted by: Al, Oxford on 6:33pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I'm really pleased to see that these disastrous development plans have been stalled and hope that this allows time for a rethink. Bringing more car parking space to the centre of Oxford is the last thing we need - fewer cars, a sustainable public transport system and better provision for cyclists would help clean up our city's filthy air, improve public health and reduce our climate change impact. How about a state-of-the-art tram system?
I'm really pleased to see that these disastrous development plans have been stalled and hope that this allows time for a rethink. Bringing more car parking space to the centre of Oxford is the last thing we need - fewer cars, a sustainable public transport system and better provision for cyclists would help clean up our city's filthy air, improve public health and reduce our climate change impact. How about a state-of-the-art tram system?
Posted by: Ed, Oxford on 6:38pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Yeah we need to get rid of cars from Oxford city, oh and buses.
I *wish* we had trams.
Yeah we need to get rid of cars from Oxford city, oh and buses.
I *wish* we had trams.
Posted by: jane, oxford on 9:54am Sun 30 Mar 08
I am so happy that the plans for the Westgate have been stopped. At least for a year. It is a tragedy that some members of the city council allowed so many trees to be cut down, before plans were approved.
[bold]bold[/bold] Now we can really think about what we do want to have happen in this area and how to achieve it in an environmentally sustainably way.
I, personally cannot think of anything I would ever want to buy that I could not buy in Oxford now. I think we are more than adequately supplied with shops. I would like to see more natural green spaces in the city centre where people could sit and enjoy the beautiful sights of Oxford that it is famous for, without the noise and air pollution, almost on a par with Bejing).
I am so happy that the plans for the Westgate have been stopped. At least for a year. It is a tragedy that some members of the city council allowed so many trees to be cut down, before plans were approved.
Now we can really think about what we do want to have happen in this area and how to achieve it in an environmentally sustainably way.
I, personally cannot think of anything I would ever want to buy that I could not buy in Oxford now. I think we are more than adequately supplied with shops. I would like to see more natural green spaces in the city centre where people could sit and enjoy the beautiful sights of Oxford that it is famous for, without the noise and air pollution, almost on a par with Bejing).
Posted by: Jack in the Green, Pixie Mead on 5:39pm Mon 31 Mar 08
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Serves the totally arrogant planning dept right for thinking they can do whatever they like without properly consulting Oxford's citizens about what we'd like to see in our town.
First, they cut down trees all over the place as if they wre allergic to them, then they try and get rid of a vital boatyard in Jericho, then they try and blight Oxford with a massive shopping centre and bring thousands more cars into Oxford every week. How entirely irresponsible can you get??
Let's have a decent electric traffic system (electric buses, trams, tolley buses?) first to deal with our illegally polluted air and then we can consider how many more shops we really need. The planning dept is guilty of grosse negligence and ought to be sacked for ever coming near the "solutions" they have come up with for this historical city. We need people that are concerned with the city's aesthetic outlook and air cleanliness in charge of planning, not people who are going to bend over backwards for market forces to the expense of the health of our children and the blocking of our streets. What can they be thinking of,these planners? Certainly not you or me or the general good of Oxford...
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Serves the totally arrogant planning dept right for thinking they can do whatever they like without properly consulting Oxford's citizens about what we'd like to see in our town.
First, they cut down trees all over the place as if they wre allergic to them, then they try and get rid of a vital boatyard in Jericho, then they try and blight Oxford with a massive shopping centre and bring thousands more cars into Oxford every week. How entirely irresponsible can you get??
Let's have a decent electric traffic system (electric buses, trams, tolley buses?) first to deal with our illegally polluted air and then we can consider how many more shops we really need. The planning dept is guilty of grosse negligence and ought to be sacked for ever coming near the "solutions" they have come up with for this historical city. We need people that are concerned with the city's aesthetic outlook and air cleanliness in charge of planning, not people who are going to bend over backwards for market forces to the expense of the health of our children and the blocking of our streets. What can they be thinking of,these planners? Certainly not you or me or the general good of Oxford...
Posted by: MATT NILE, OXFORD on 1:18pm Wed 2 Apr 08
As a resident of the sheltered housing I am staying positive - change is a good thing and as long as they rehouse us in a good place ---what's the problem
All cities change
As a resident of the sheltered housing I am staying positive - change is a good thing and as long as they rehouse us in a good place ---what's the problem
All cities change
Posted by: MhicLieod-O'hOga'i
n, abidonng on 8:41pm Wed 2 Apr 08
Oxford city centre has always been crap and always will be.Its filthy, smelly and full of ****-heads. What a terrible indictment for a once leading centre of education but now alas a pathetic backwater given over to to greedy money grubbing parasites.
Oxford city centre has always been crap and always will be.Its filthy, smelly and full of ****-heads. What a terrible indictment for a once leading centre of education but now alas a pathetic backwater given over to to greedy money grubbing parasites.
Posted by: hilary, oxford on 3:28pm Fri 4 Apr 08
[bold]bold[/bold] i think that its a [bold]bold[/bold] good idea but we need to know what [bold]bold[/bold] shops were [bold]bold[/bold] geting!!!
i think that its a good idea but we need to know what shops were geting!!!
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