City

Oxford's Westgate Centre nears completion

15 Nov, 2016

Westgate Shopping Centre will include rooftop garden.

The curved Bonn Square façade at the new-look Westgate Shopping Centre is nearing completion as part of a £440 million revamp of the Queen Street mall. The square in named after the Germany city of Bonn with which Oxford has been twinned since 1947.

The revamp and extension of the 1970s-era arcade will see the creation of four new buildings, including 100 stores, 25 restaurants and cafes, a boutique cinema and public spaces.

Central to the restyling is a new rooftop garden area which will offer the public panoramic views of the city as well as a space for live performances and film screenings.

Queen Street is currently pedestrianised, to faciliate works, and the city council is reportedly considering plans to make the pedestrianisation permanent.

The new shopping centre is due to open in October 2017 and is expected to generate up to 1,000 jobs.