TRADERS in Oxford are calling for Cornmarket Street’s architectural heritage to be protected.

Plans were unveiled by Jesus College earlier this year to redevelop Northgate House on the corner of Market Street (currently home to Fat Face and Carphone Warehouse) and split it up into smaller units.

Now the medieval facade and interior of 26-27 Cornmarket, housing Pret a Manger, could also undergo a refurbishment.

Pret a Manger changed parts of its plans after concerns were raised by Oxford Preservation Trust and Oxford City Council’s conservation team regarding the use of grey paint and ‘alien timber cladding’.

Now city centre traders who are members of ROX – Promoting Oxford Business – have echoed concerns and are urging planners to ensure proposals in the street are dealt with sensitively.

Michael Keirs, who has run Arcadia books and prints shop in St Michael’s Street for more than 40 years, said: “We have traded for many decades in St Michael’s Street and have seen the decline in the fabric and appeal of nearby Cornmarket Street.

“We are pleased to see efforts to turn this around to both retain and bring some elegance back into what, once, was Oxford’s most important shopping location.

“Let’s make the street come alive again through some of the best architectural design.”

Since the £440m Westgate Centre opened in October some traders have complained about Cornmarket looking shabby after major chains including Next and River Island moved to the Westgate, with the former Next unit remaining unoccupied.

Traders in the Covered Market have also voiced fears about a reduction in footfall as more shoppers head to the Westgate and say it is vital that Cornmarket is not neglected.

In a statement ROX said earlier: “With some of the changes taking place, now is the time for Oxford City Council, through stronger planning policies, to help restore some of the former glory to some of our historic streets.

“Cornmarket, where St Michael in the Northgate church and 12 Grade II listed buildings are almost lost amongst the bland concrete and brick frontages of the late 20th century, is one that needs rescuing, as does Merton Street with its famous cobbles in disarray.”

While alterations to the Pret a Manger building are a concern for ROX, the proposed changes at Northgate House are more radical.

The organisation said it 'appreciated' the plans by Jesus College to replace the brutal concrete block on the corner of Market Street.

But it added: “We do believe that the frontage onto Cornmarket could be improved with a more interesting façade, particularly on the dominant corner.”

Submitting its Northgate House plans, Jesus College said that the proposal would offer a wider benefit in providing a visual marker not only for the college but also for the Covered Market and for Market Street more generally.

It said bringing more footfall into Market Street it could, in turn, increase footfall in the Covered Market.