Westgate Oxford

Last updated

Westgate Oxford
WestgateOxfordLogo.svg
New Westgate Oxford Dec 2017.jpg
Inside view of the 2017 Westgate Oxford shopping centre
Westgate Oxford
Location Oxford, England
Coordinates 51°45′04″N1°15′40″W / 51.751°N 1.261°W / 51.751; -1.261
Opening date1972 (original building)
Tuesday 24 October 2017 (enlarged building)
ArchitectOriginal building: Douglas Murray
Enlarged scheme: BDP, Dixon Jones, Allies & Morrison, Panter Hudspith, Glen Howells Architects
No. of stores and services125
No. of anchor tenants 1 (John Lewis)
Total retail floor area 800,000 square feet (74,000 m2)
Website www.westgateoxford.co.uk

Westgate Oxford (formerly the Westgate Centre and originally Westgate Shopping Centre) is a major shopping centre in Oxford city centre, England, that was extensively remodelled and extended between 2016 and 2017.

Contents

The original centre was built between 1970 and 1972, designed by Douglas Murray and built by Taylor Woodrow. [1] The centre was closed in February 2016 for comprehensive redevelopment, and reopened on Tuesday 24 October 2017. [2]

Location

Westgate is at the west end of Queen Street, facing onto Bonn Square. [3] The West Gate into the city of Oxford stood at the adjacent [3] junction of Castle Street, Norfolk Street and Paradise Street until the mid-17th century, [4] having stood there since the Saxon period, and the shopping centre is named after this former gateway into the city. [5] The site is bordered by Bonn Square, Castle Street, Norfolk Street, Oxpens Road, Old Greyfriars Street, Roger Bacon Lane and St Ebbes Street, and is adjacent to the medieval Oxford Castle quarter to the northwest. [3]

History

The Westgate Shopping Centre opened in 1972, and was originally owned by Oxford City Council. The centre included branches of Selfridges, Sainsbury's and C&A. [6] The central library was also moved to the centre from the Town Hall, being opened by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, on 31 October 1973. [7] Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited in 1976. [8]

The centre was sold in the 1980s to private owners; [6] in 1986, they refurbished it, at a cost of £3 million. Two years later, an early proposal was made to extend the centre by its then owners, CIN Properties and Arrowcroft, but did not proceed. [8] The large Selfridges, latterly a branch of Lewis's and then Allders, closed in 2005, and became a Primark in 2006. [9]

Redevelopment

Plans for the redevelopment of the Westgate area were originally published in 2004. [10] Over the next several years, the plan underwent several rounds of consultation and inquiry. [11] The eventual plan was adopted in the early 2010s, and development permission granted in November 2014. [12] Work on the development started in early 2015, and the original centre closed in 2016.

The developer is the Westgate Oxford Alliance, a joint venture between the Crown Estate and Land Securities Group Plc. [13] [14]

The new centre has almost 800,000 square feet (74,000 m2) of retail, restaurant and leisure space including a new John Lewis, a rooftop dining terrace with views across Oxford's skyline, and a five screen Curzon Cinema. [12] According to Oxford City Council, "the £500 million redevelopment of the Westgate Centre is a key part of the regeneration of Oxford city centre, creating high quality buildings designed by world-class architects and providing more than 3,400 new full-time equivalent jobs." [15] [16] The new centre reopened on 24 October 2017. [17]

2017 facilities

The 2017 Westgate has features and facilities including: [15]

Criticism

Archeological remains

When the original centre was built in the 1970s, excavations for the service basements destroyed archaeological remains of part of medieval Oxford. [18]

During the 2015–2017 redevelopment, Oxford Archaeology, working in conjunction with the developers and contractors, carried out architectural investigations into "the extensive remains of the medieval Greyfriars friary (AD 1244–1538)", with stone foundations, wooden and other artefacts, and part of a medieval tiled floor being discovered. [19] The tiled floor is now on display in the centre. [20] Remains from the excavations were temporarily displayed in the Museum of Oxford. [21]

Urban planning and architecture

A local campaign group, called "Oxford Against Westgate Expansion", was formed to oppose the proposed redevelopment, holding a public meeting at the Oxford Town Hall on 28 February 2008. At the meeting, protestors voiced concerns about increased traffic and potential risk of flooding from the construction of an underground car park. [22] A second meeting was held on 13 March that year. [23]

There have also been concerns over the imposing and largely windowless wall at the southwest of the latest redevelopment on Oxpens Road by conservationists, including the Oxford Civic Society. [24]

Queen Street closure

Oxfordshire County Council sought to ban buses from using Queen Street, which passes the Westgate Centre's main entrance. The council alleged that the increase in pedestrian numbers generated by the enlarged shopping centre would mean that it would no longer be safe for buses to use the street. The Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, declined the application, pointing out that the council had failed to provide evidence of its claim. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford</span> City and district in Oxfordshire, England

Oxford is a city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. Founded in the 8th century, it was granted city status in 1542. The city is located at the confluence of the rivers Thames and Cherwell. It had a population of 162,100 at the 2021 census. It is 56 miles (90 km) north-west of London, 64 miles (103 km) south-east of Birmingham and 61 miles (98 km) north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world; it has buildings in every style of English architecture since late Anglo-Saxon. Oxford's industries include motor manufacturing, education, publishing, information technology and science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloucester</span> City and non-metropolitan district in England

Gloucester is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west; it is sited 19 miles (31 km) east of Monmouth and 17 miles (27 km) east of the border with Wales. Gloucester has a population of around 132,000, including suburban areas. It is a port, linked via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to the Severn Estuary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elephant & Castle tube station</span> London Underground station

Elephant & Castle is a London Underground station in the London Borough of Southwark in south London. It is on the Bank branch of the Northern line between Borough and Kennington stations. It is also the southern terminus of the Bakerloo line and the next station towards north is Lambeth North. The station is in both Travelcard Zones 1 and 2. The Northern line station was opened in 1890 by the City and South London Railway (C&SLR) while the Bakerloo line station was opened sixteen years later by the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway (BS&WR). There is an out-of-station interchange with the nearby Elephant & Castle National Rail station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff city centre</span> Central Business District in Wales

Cardiff city centre is the city centre and central business district of Cardiff, Wales. The area is tightly bound by the River Taff to the west, the Civic Centre to the north and railway lines and two railway stations – Central and Queen Street – to the south and east respectively. Cardiff became a city in 1905.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eldon Square Shopping Centre</span> Shopping mall in Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Eldon Square is a shopping centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It opened in 1976 and was built on the site of Old Eldon Square, a famous part of Georgian Newcastle designed by John Dobson in about 1824. This redevelopment, which left only the eastern terrace standing, has been criticised, with one writer calling it "the greatest single example of architectural vandalism in Britain since the war".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadmarsh</span> Former shopping centre in Nottingham

Broadmarsh is an historic area of Nottingham, England. The area was subjected to large scale slum clearance, creating large spaces used for regeneration. A shopping centre, car park, bus station and road complex created in the early 1970s cut-through the traditional thoroughfares from the city centre to the rail and canalside area. A large courts building was opened in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of Oxford</span> History museum in Oxford, England

The Museum of Oxford(MOX) is a history museum in Oxford, England, covering the history of Oxford and its people. The museum includes both permanent and temporary displays featuring artefacts relating to Oxford's history from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum also acts as a public meeting space which people and organisations rent for both public and private events. Other activities facilitated by the museum include frequent public talks by historians and local cultural organisations, organised school tours, family activities, adult learning workshops, and an older people's program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Street, Oxford</span> Pedestrianised shopping street in Oxford, England

Queen Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in central Oxford, England. It is one-way for buses and taxis, two-way for cyclists outside main shopping hours, and forbidden for cars. It runs west from the centre of Oxford at Carfax. Here it adjoins Cornmarket Street to the north, the High Street continuing east, and St Aldate's to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonn Square</span> Square in central Oxford, England

Bonn Square in Oxford, England, is named after the German city of Bonn with which Oxford is twinned. It is close to the original west gate of the city of Oxford, where the Westgate Shopping Centre is now located. To the east is Queen Street, a shopping street. New Inn Hall Street leads north from near here. Oxford Castle and the old Oxford Prison are also nearby, now converted into a hotel and restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsway Shopping Centre</span> Shopping mall in Newport, Wales

The Kingsway Shopping Centre is an under-cover shopping centre in Newport city centre, Wales. The northern pedestrian entrance is on John Frost Square adjoining the Friars Walk shopping and leisure complex. The east pedestrian entrance is off Commercial Street. The west pedestrian entrance is on Emlyn Street. The centre is a short walk from the high street shops of Commercial Street and High Street. Newport railway station is also a short walk away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport city centre</span>

Newport city centre is traditionally regarded as the area of Newport, Wales bounded by the west bank of the River Usk, the George Street Bridge, the eastern flank of Stow Hill and the South Wales Main Line. Most of the city centre is contained within two conservation areas: the central area and the area around Lower Dock Street. Most of the city centre is located in the Stow Hill district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarendon Shopping Centre</span> Shopping centre in Oxford, England

The Clarendon Centre is a shopping centre in central Oxford, England, opened in 1984. The centre faces Cornmarket Street, and has other entrances onto Queen Street and Shoe Lane. The fascia onto Cornmarket Street is that of the Woolworths store which had, in a decision later criticised, replaced the Georgian Clarendon Hotel; it was discovered during demolition that medieval construction had been present within the hotel. The shopping centre was expanded in 2012–14. Major tenants include TK Maxx, H&M and Gap Outlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Central bus station</span> Former bus terminal in Wales

Cardiff Central bus station was the main bus transport interchange in the Cardiff city centre until it closed on 1 August 2015. With 34 stands, it was the largest bus station in Wales. It was located adjacent to Cardiff Central railway station forming a major interchange. Construction of a new bus and transport interchange on the site of the former NCP multi-storey car park in Wood Street, adjacent to the old bus station, is underway with an expected date of completion sometime in spring 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxpens Road</span>

Oxpens Road is a road in central Oxford, England, linking west and south Oxford. It is named after the marshy area of Oxpens, next to one of the branches of the River Thames in Oxford. It forms part of the A420 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grosvenor Centre</span> Shopping centre in Northampton, England

The Grosvenor Centre is a shopping centre in the town centre of Northampton, England. Work started in 1972 and the building opened in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensgate Peterborough</span> Shopping mall in Peterborough, Cambs.

The Queensgate shopping centre is located in the centre of the UK city of Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire. It contains over 100 stores and parking for 2,300 cars in four onsite multi-storey car parks. Queensgate bus station is located within the shopping centre and only a short walk from Peterborough railway station. Peterborough Shop Mobility provide wheelchairs and electric scooters to help those with limited mobility. The centre was opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on 9 March 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Cardiff</span> Overview of the architecture in the capital city of Wales

Architecture in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, dates from Norman times to the present day. Its urban fabric is largely Victorian and later, reflecting Cardiff's rise to prosperity as a major coal port in the 19th century. No single building style is associated with Cardiff, but the city centre retains several 19th and early 20th century shopping arcades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free b</span> British bus operating company

Free b was a zero-fare shuttle bus that operated in Cardiff city centre, Wales. The route circled the edges of the city centre anti-clockwise. The service was operated by Cardiff Bus.

Paradise Street is a historical street in central Oxford, England. It is in the St Ebbe's area of Oxford, to the southwest of Oxford Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastgate Shopping Centre, Gloucester</span> Shopping mall in Gloucester, England

The Eastgate Shopping Centre is a two-story indoor shopping centre in Gloucester, England. It opened its portico entrance on 3 July 1973.

References

  1. Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Westgate Centre". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford . London: Macmillan. pp. 495–496. ISBN   0-333-39917-X.
  2. Campbell, Loughlan (29 October 2015). "Shops to shut for Westgate demolition". Oxfordshire Guardian . Taylor Newspapers.
  3. 1 2 3 Google (6 September 2019). "Westgate Oxford" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  4. Stephanie Jenkins. "The West Gate and its Church". Oxford History. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  5. Richard Robinson (4 May 2002). "Oxford: Two wheels good, four sad" . Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  6. 1 2 John Chipperfield (9 November 2013). "The Westgate Centre in the past". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  7. Stephanie Jenkins (2013). "Oxford Inscriptions: Former Public Library". Oxford History. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  8. 1 2 Matt Oliver (29 November 2014). "Westgate shopping centre through the years". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  9. Olivia Gordon (22 June 2016). "Oxford city centre to be spruced up with Westgate shopping centre's £500m makeover". Oxford Today. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  10. "The Westgate Partnership wins strong support for design proposals". Capital Shopping Centres. UK: Capital Shopping Centres. 14 December 2005.
  11. Sheldrick, Giles (5 December 2007). "Westgate inquiry under way". Oxford Times . Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 "Our Plans". Westgate Oxford. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  13. "About Us". Westgate Oxford. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  14. "Westgate Oxford Alliance". Westgate Oxford. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Westgate". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  16. "Oxford's £500m Westgate Centre gets go-ahead". Architects Journal. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  17. "Westgate Oxford – The ultimate retail and lifestyle destination". Westgate Oxford. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  18. Hassall, Tom (1987). Oxford: The Buried City . Oxford Archaeological Unit. p.  7. ISBN   0-904220-09-5.
  19. "Westgate Oxford". Oxford Archaeology. 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  20. Andrew Ffrench (9 February 2018). "Historic friary tiles now on show in artwork at Westgate Centre". The Oxford Mail. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  21. "Alchemy, flushing toilets and blood-letting: The secrets of medieval Oxford revealed". The Independent. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  22. David Home (2 March 2008). "Westgate protesters 'more determined'". Oxford Times. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  23. "Westgate protesters stage meeting". Oxford Times. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  24. Ffrench, Andy (25 May 2017). "Concerns over centre's 'stark' wall – Part of design for Westgate is critised [sic]". Oxford Times. p. 7.
  25. "Minister declines bus ban request". BBC News. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.