Transformed Westgate Oxford shopping centre celebrates one year trading

The transformed Westgate shopping centre, central Oxford’s premium retail and leisure destination, opened its doors to the public a year ago today.

Chapman Taylor, supporting Laing O’Rourke, delivered the landmark regeneration project on behalf of a joint venture between Landsec and The Crown Estate. The development was the largest shopping and leisure development to open in the UK in 2017.

The retail and leisure scheme, located at the west end of the city’s Queen Street, replaced the 1970s shopping centre, providing 74,300m² of contemporary fashion, film and food. It comprises two main levels of over 100 brands, including Hotel Chocolat, Ted Baker, COS and Guess, and introduces a 13,200m² flagship John Lewis store. Westgate Social, a street-food and leisure hub sits on the lower ground floor, while restaurants and a cinema complex can be found on the roof terrace, offering wonderful views of the city’s spires.

The innovative design of the development introduced a mix of covered streets, lanes, arcades and squares, while retaining part of the existing centre. Two public squares - Bonn Square and Leiden Square – were created as places for visitors to relax, in which pop-up events and exhibitions are hosted.

Chapman Taylor developed the scheme alongside Laing O’Rourke using BIM (Building Information Modelling), which enabled direct data transfer of precast façade, structure and core designs into fabrication software used in off-site manufacturing facilities.

Chapman Taylor Director Phil Durrans comments: “We are proud to have worked as the Delivery Architect on Westgate’s redevelopment, and are delighted at the success of the centre in the first year trading since its transformation. Congratulations to LandSec, The Crown Estate and everyone at Westgate, and good luck for the years to come.”

The retail and leisure scheme, located at the west end of the city’s Queen Street, replaced the 1970s shopping centre, providing 74,300m² of contemporary fashion, film and food. It comprises two main levels of over 100 brands, including Hotel Chocolat, Ted Baker, COS and Guess, and introduces a 13,200m² flagship John Lewis store. Westgate Social, a street-food and leisure hub sits on the lower ground floor, while restaurants and a cinema complex can be found on the roof terrace, offering wonderful views of the city’s spires.

The innovative design of the development introduced a mix of covered streets, lanes, arcades and squares, while retaining part of the existing centre. Two public squares - Bonn Square and Leiden Square – were created as places for visitors to relax, in which pop-up events and exhibitions are hosted.

Chapman Taylor developed the scheme alongside Laing O’Rourke using BIM (Building Information Modelling), which enabled direct data transfer of precast façade, structure and core designs into fabrication software used in off-site manufacturing facilities.

Chapman Taylor Director Phil Durrans comments: “We are proud to have worked as the Delivery Architect on Westgate’s redevelopment, and are delighted at the success of the centre in the first year trading since its transformation. Congratulations to LandSec, The Crown Estate and everyone at Westgate, and good luck for the years to come.”