A LONG-AWAITED multi-million pound overhaul of one of Oxford’s biggest shopping centres has moved a step closer and public reaction to the plans have been mixed.

NewRiver confirmed this week plans for a £60m redevelopment of Cowley’s Templars Square Shopping Centre have officially been lodged with Oxford City Council.

The firm, which holds the lease to the site, first revealed plans in July 2015 for the revamp which will include a new hotel, new restaurants and a 200-home apartment block, together with street and building improvements.

Initially the application was due a year ago but NewRiver said ironing out the details of the application put the project back.

It went on to say the plans were a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ and described them as an excellent opportunity to reinvigorate the existing site.

Centre manager Owen Acland said: “The vision for Templars Square is hugely exciting because it preserves what people like most, a mix of shops, the community feel, the welcoming atmosphere.”

New images of the proposals were largely welcomed by residents and workers on Between Towns Road.

Julie Calver, aged 37, who manages Connells Estate Agents at the centre called the plans ‘exciting’ and said: “It’s going to be such an asset to a retail centre on the outskirts of Oxford city centre and it’s going to help the overall housing market in the area.

“The market has always been really strong in Cowley and I think it will be better with the services for local residents.

“It will bring huge benefits I think for the local community and for Cowley.”

Shop assistant at Cowley Express Rabin Kiffly, aged 27, was also buoyed by the plans.

He said: “I love it. I think it looks great. It will bring customers here, I like it. There might be some construction noise and traffic but I think the plans look great.”

Littlemore resident Zoe Hill, aged 57, said: “I think any kind of regeneration can only be a good thing, it is long overdue here.

“It has been run down and some of these buildings need to be re-done. As long as we don’t have another Westgate it looks good to me.”

Retired Dene Road resident Pauline Collett said: “It isn’t too bad but this shopping centre is changing every year.

“I am quite happy with it how it is. I come here once a week to shop, it is quite a good centre really.

“There are traffic problems here especially at the weekend, I am not sure this revamp would make it any better.”

But Between Towns Road resident Mary Smith, aged 67, was less than impressed with the proposal.

She said: “It’s horrendous. The traffic is terrible around here.

“It will bring problems to the area, if you leave here at around 4 o’clock the traffic with all the school children is so bad.

“They could do it up a bit instead because it doesn’t need much doing to it. There is nothing in these plans that will benefit the community.”

The plans are currently being verified by the council.