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Oxford’s largest construction project for ten years on schedule for end of year completion

Oxford170216Requiring 7,000t of structural steelwork, the Westgate shopping centre project, due to be completed this year, is said to be the largest construction project in Oxford city centre in more than a decade.

The multi-million pound scheme will transform an existing shopping centre and a large plot formerly occupied by a car park, into a 74,300m² retail and leisure destination.

Overall it will include more than 100 new shops, 25 restaurants and cafes, a boutique cinema, rooftop terrace dining, a large John Lewis anchor store and a residential block containing 59 flats.

Main contractor Laing O’Rourke began work in January 2015, and its 30-month contract encompasses the construction of the new elements, which are predominantly sat atop a 1,000- space underground car park, as well as the extensive remodelling of the existing Westgate shopping centre.

The retained structure will provide one of the main entrances into the new Westgate and more than 1,000t of the project’s overall steel tonnage has been used for the remodelling programme.

“A new entrance has been created, but most of the new steelwork within this building has been used to form new and more prominent shop fronts along the central pedestrian mall, as well as infilling areas that previously accommodated lift and stair cores and creating structural support around new tenants opening requirements,” said Waterman Structures Project Director Karen Telling.

For the new build part of the scheme, project steelwork contractor BHC is erecting three three-storey steel-framed retail buildings, as well as a series of steel bridges that will link the blocks at second and third floor levels. The longest of the bridges will span 22m across the main covered street.

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