IT MAY be hard to believe, but in just over a year and eight months this massive hole in the ground, centre left, will be the new Westgate Shopping Centre.

The £440m project to extend the 1970s building started last February, with the demolition of the multi-storey car park.

It is expected to be completed in October 2017 and is being undertaken by the Crown Estate and Land Securities, who together form the Westgate Oxford Alliance.

The redevelopment will transform the facade of the building and add two new sections that will include a flagship John Lewis store, 100 new shops including River Island, Primark, Superdry, Michael Kors, H&M, Next, Schuh and Goldsmiths.

There will also be a five-screen cinema, as well as 25 cafes and restaurants.

A spokeswoman for the scheme yesterday said: “We remain on track to bring a world class retail and leisure destination to Oxford.”