RESIDENTS and city traders are being asked to help shape the future of Oxford’s Westgate quarter.

Developers behind plans for a £400m redevelopment of the Westgate shopping centre and surrounding area have launched a consultation and public exhibition of the plans.

It comes as the Westgate Alliance, a consortium of companies working together on the proposal, is preparing its initial bid for outline planning permission.

It wants to revamp the Westgate centre, car park and associated sites to provide more retail and leisure facilities, including a cinema and an extra 34,000sqm of floor space headed by a John Lewis department store.

But developers remain locked in talks with Oxford City Council about the amount of money they will have to contribute to local infrastructure.

And traders last night called for a quick resolution to the negotiations.

James Dixon, landlord of The Grapes pub in George Street, said: “Anything which increases footfall is a good thing. There is a lack of big stores in the city, and I think this will be a good thing and should go ahead as soon as possible.”

Westgate Alliance development manager Sara Fuge said: “We are now at a stage where we can seek the views of local people on our proposals, and I hope as many people as possible can come along to our consultation events.”

Last week, planning inspector Geoff Salter said the city council and the Westgate Alliance would have to settle their differences over plans to change the way developers contributed to services.

The council wants to introduce a flat-rate “Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)” of between £20 and £100 per square metre of development to replace existing section 106 payments.

But the Alliance has raised concerns that the new policy will mean they will be hit by a double whammy of payments, with CIL demanded by the city council, and section 106 payments needed by the county council.

Neither Ms Fuge nor the council would comment on the ongoing negotiations.

But council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “The inspector concluded a short inquiry last week to review the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy.

“His report is expected in the next three to four weeks.”

Public exhibition, drop-in sessions

The public exhibition will be held at the so-called Westgate Consultation Shop, next to Sainsbury’s in the centre, from Thursday, June 20, to Friday, June 28.

Opening times: 10am to 5.30pm. Open until 8pm on June 20 and June 27.

Members of the Westgate Alliance will be on hand at the exhibition to show residents basic plans for the centre and note their comments.

Drop-in sessions will also be held at:

The Kings Centre, Osney Mead, West Oxford, Friday, June 21, from 4pm to 8pm

Fusion Arts Centre, Princes Street, East Oxford, Tuesday, June 25, 1pm to 4pm

South Oxford Community Centre, Lake Street, South Oxford, Wednesday, June 26, 4pm to 8pm.