John Lewis in talks for Oxford store
New plans for extension of Westgate Centre
June 19 2003
John Lewis hopes to open a new full-line department store in Oxford as part of a plan to extend the Westgate shopping centre in the heart of the city.
The UK’s biggest department store operator said it would “like to find a way” to open in Oxford and confirmed it is in talks with the Westgate Partnership, a joint venture between Capital Shopping Centres and LaSalle Investment Management.
The partnership has withdrawn an existing planning application to extend the Westgate Centre, and announced plans to for a new application “reflecting significant and positive changes to the original scheme design.” This will take into account design and townscape issues raised during a public inquiry into the extension plan.
Richard Cable, director of Capital Shopping Centres, said: “We are optimistic that the benefits to Oxford of our proposed new planning application, which will take into account the issues raised during the public inquiry and provide for a John Lewis Department store, will rapidly be appreciated by all interested parties.”
Oxford City councillor Alex Hollingsworth said: “The new Westgate Centre is an important part of the City Council’s plans for the West End of the city. We look forward to working with everyone concerned on this exciting new project with a genuine prospect of John Lewis coming to Oxford.”
Luke Mayhew, managing director of John Lewis Department Stores, said: “We would really like to find a way to open a new department store in Oxford. Although the discussions with CSC are at an early stage we think that an enhanced Westgate Centre could provide a really good opportunity for a new John Lewis store.”
Allders is already a tenant of the Westgate Centre, with Debenhams also trading in the city.
