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Plans for £60m revamp of ‘tired’ centre approved By Eva Astreinidou A £60MILLION plan to regenerate the ‘tired’ shopping centre in the heart of Cowley has been given a seal of approval. Oxford City Council has approved plans for ‘a once in a lifetime investment’ in Templars Square by its owners NewRiver. The regeneration of the shopping centre and site is set to include a new hotel, new restaurant units, new housing, improved streetscape and pedestrian routes, and upgraded car parking. City council board member for planning, Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, said: “The centre is 50 years old and is in need of modernisation. It will also offer much needed housing.” Jamie Whitfield, director of commercial development at NewRiver, was delighted the proposal had been approved. He said: “We have been working alongside the council and the local residents over two years. “We look forward to introducing
new restaurants, homes, a hotel, jobs to the area and revitalising the tired entrances and public realm.” Existing shops will be preserved through the plans, which will create 60 new jobs and 300 construction jobs. NewRiver, which worked in collaboration with Corstorphine & Wright Architects, submitted the plans in November 2016. On July 4, the Oxford Preservation Trust said: “OPT encourages the council to do more to secure ways of minimising the harm by securing improvements in the design and use of materials.” It added: “If this tall building is to be seen, then what it looks like is of critical importance.” In January, the plans received 80.1 per cent approval in public meetings hosted for residents and businesses. Of 227 responders who were asked whether they supported the proposals, a total of 144 people said yes, 36 were unsure, 34 said no, and 13 did not express an opinion.
Runners tickled pink to help
An artist’s impression of the revamped centre
UNIVERSITY Park was turned pink on Sunday morning as thousands of women took part in the Race for Life. Around 2,300 ran, jogged or walked either the 5k or 10k courses to support the fight against cancer in an electric
atmosphere that was full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter. It is hoped that £170,000 will be raised for Cancer Research’s lifesaving work. Picture: Kelly Rumble
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